Ahead of the highly anticipated El Clasico later today, former FC Barcelona player Patrick Kluivert was seen picking his combined XI from the two teams in a video. He faced some tough choices and selected several Barcelona players that would have pleased fans.
Considering everything that has transpired with both teams this season, this Clasico is among the most eagerly awaited in recent years, generating a level of excitement not seen for some time. In recent seasons, the results between the two sides have been somewhat one-sided.
However, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona have been in tremendous form so far this season, and are coming off an incredible victory over Bayern Munich midweek. It was a truly remarkable performance that resulted in a 4-1 win for the Catalans.
With expectations riding high for Barcelona coming into this game, Real Madrid will be aiming to draw level in the La Liga standings, as they currently sit three points behind their arch-rivals.
In this video ahead of the Clasico as revealed by GOAL Arabia via X, Kluivert was asked to choose between Pedri and Luka Modric. Without hesitation, the former player opted for the Barcelona midfield star.
This choice comes as no surprise. As legendary as Modric is, there has been a noticeable gap in performance between Pedri and the Real Madrid captain this season. The Croatian, now advancing in age, doesn’t start as often as he once did, and while his performances remain solid, they have not been exemplary.
The other decision that Kluivert made in favor of Barcelona was selecting Pau Cubarsi ahead of Eder Militao. The 17-year-old has received a lot of plaudits for his performances in recent times and this was quite a bold section.
For Barcelona to have a successful Clasico, Pedri and his teammates will need to deliver strong performances. It remains to be seen how Hansi Flick’s team will fare on the night and whether they can secure all three points in Madrid.
