Alejandro Balde has issued a warning to Real Madrid, as Barcelona enters this weekend’s El Clasico full of confidence following their Champions League defeat over Olympiacos.
Barcelona made it two victories out of three in Europe’s top club championship by defeating Olympiacos 6-1 at home on Tuesday night. Fermin Lopez scored a magnificent hat-trick, his first in senior football, while Marcus Rashford netted twice and Lamine Yamal converted a penalty.
Lopez put Barcelona ahead 2-0 in the first half, but Olympiacos equalized from the penalty spot just after the break.
However, Santiago Hezze received a second yellow card four minutes later, which opened the floodgates.
Barcelona scored four goals in the final 25 minutes, with Lopez, Yamal, and Rashford tearing up the pitch.
Rashford, a Manchester United loanee, displayed his excellent finishing with two low drives, bringing his season total to five goals and six assists from 12 matches.
If this excellent form continues, the Englishman will undoubtedly persuade Barcelona to exercise their €30 million (£26 million / $35 million) purchase option.
But it was Lopez who stole the show, causing issues for the Olympiacos all night and scoring a remarkable hat-trick with his weak foot.
His third goal was perhaps his best, as he slammed home on the half volley from 14 yards out after Roony Bardghji produced a brilliant elastico before scuffing his cross.
After the game, Balde indicated that he is already excited to travel to Madrid on Sunday afternoon.
“I’m really excited about the Clasico, it’s a special game,” he told reporters. “I hope we can win. I hope we can thrash Madrid again in the Bernabeu, but the most important thing is who gets the three points.
Barcelona hopes to repeat Real Madrid’s thrashings
“I believe we have a strong feeling going into the Clasico, but it doesn’t matter whose team is in better condition. “Anything could happen in this game.”
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Barcelona has every cause to be confident, given their most recent result and their performance versus Madrid last season.
Madrid replaced Carlo Ancelotti with Xabi Alonso in the summer after Barcelona won the domestic treble of LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de Espana.
Barcelona defeated Madrid 5-2 in the Supercopa final, and 3-2 after extra time in the Copa del Rey final.
Barcelona won all four games against Los Blancos last season, with an astounding aggregate score of 16-7.
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