Barcelona is set to host Real Madrid for the first Clasico of the season. It will be an important match with the Catalans sitting just two points behind their biggest rivals and five points back of league leaders Real Sociedad.
Normally, the week before the most anticipated match in Spain is filled with excitement as the match usually goes some way in determining who wins La Liga.
However, this time around, the excitement is nowhere near as palpable and the lack of it is plain to see.
Barcelona and Real Madrid head into game with plenty of questions
Some of the talk surrounding El Clásico in the previous years was whether or not the match had been devalued. That type of noise had always been brushed aside but now it could certainly be the case.
The match between these two Spanish giants used to be about the names on the pitch. Supporters of these clubs debated which team had the better players. Neutrals around the world wanted to see a game between the best players the sport had to offer. More often than not, those players either played for Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Without the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luis Suarez and many more, El Clásico this time around seems to be built on the brand of each team rather than the players.
The match is El Clásico in name only.
Both teams are entering a second season with lackluster results and poor displays.
Barcelona have been on the verge of firing manager Ronald Koeman and it will be their first time in a long time facing Real Madrid without Messi.
Zinedine Zidane stepped down as manager of Madrid at the end of last season and Carlo Ancelotti was brought in as his replacement. He’s had his own issues with the team that he’s yet to resolve.
The most recognizable player with some of the others gone is Karim Benzema. The French striker has been on a tear and despite the absences, he still considers it the best match in the world.
"“For me, it’s still the same. This is the best game in football in the world regardless of the players who are here, the ones who left. It is the history. It is football. [Before Ronaldo and Messi] there was Zinedine Zidane, there was Ronaldinho, there was Ronaldo, there was Samuel Eto’o.The names change, but Real Madrid vs. Barcelona is still Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, regardless of the players. The pressure is different.”Source: ESPN"
In a sense, Benzema is correct. The names change but the match is still the same. The difference is the age we live in. In a social media world, the spotlight has turned to the players rather than the teams. With games more widely available, casual viewers tune in because of who they recognize. Benzema is one of them.
This Clasico, much like the respective teams, is going to be one of transition. Barcelona and Real Madrid are still trying to find themselves and their identities. One club decided to go back and hire a familiar face while the other could be in line for a fresh start with a new manager come the end of the season.
Younger stars like Ansu Fati and Vinicius Junior could very well use the spotlight to further cement themselves in the minds and hearts of their respective supporters. There is still plenty of intrigue surrounding this match.
Given the absences and departures of a lot of big names, especially Messi, it is difficult not to say that the hype has lessened or that the biggest match in Spain has lost some of its value.