El Clasico: Five key duels which could decide showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona

All eyes will be on Real Madrid and Barcelona’s latest meeting this Sunday night, when El Clasico takes place at the Bernabeu. This is always a big occasion, but even more so this time around given that Barcelona need a victory to shake up the title race and cut the gap to the league leaders.

How will Carlo Ancelotti and Xavi go about trying to secure the three points? Well, this is a match which will surely be decided by the fine margins and by a few individual duels. Here, we take a look at five match-ups which could determine who wins the game and, just perhaps, the La Liga title.

Ferland Mendy vs Lamine Yamal

The last time Lamine Yamal was at the Bernabeu, he put on a show in a friendly match for Spain against Brazil and was even given a standing ovation when he was substituted off. The 16-year-old right winger already has 10 goal contributions this La Liga season, with four goals and six assists, and is averaging 1.6 successful dribbles per game. He has caused defenders problems all season long, but this weekend he’ll be going up against Ferland Mendy, one of the best defensive-minded left-backs in world football. If Mendy can keep Lamine Yamal quiet, that would be a big boost to the home side’s chances.

Pau Cubarsi vs Rodrygo and Vinicius

At the other end of the pitch, Real Madrid’s explosive Brazilian duo of Rodrygo and Vinicius will be looking to cause problems for the Barcelona defence. They have scored a combined 22 goals this La Liga season and were brilliant in the most recent El Clasico, when Real Madrid won 4-1 in the Spanish Super Cup final and when Vinicius scored a hat-trick and Rodrygo the other goal of that game. Since these old foes last met, however, Pau Cubarsi has made his debut for Barcelona and