Barça gets ready for El Clasico against Real Madrid

It’s that time again. For some, it might be one of the only confrontations between Catalonia and Spain that really matters: ‘El Clasico’. The derby between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid on Sunday is sure to set sparks flying.

Although Barça is out of the UEFA Champions League, its recent La Liga victory has set it back on track. The team was back on the training ground on Friday to continue preparations, with less than 48 hours to go before the big game.

International interest

El Clasico is such a big fixture on the football calendar, fans all over the world will be tuning in to watch two of football’s best teams go head-on-head at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium.

Across the pond, New York City will be hosting its second screening of the big day, with live music on the run up to kick-off. David Villa, the former Barça Player and also ambassador for La Liga will be attending the event taking place at Hudson River Park in Manhattan.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, fans will be able to get involved in the action at the Argentine Polo Ground, which has the capacity for 5,000 avid Barça or Madrid fans. In fact, the derby will be shown on giant screens in countries throughout South America, Europe, and Asia.

And let’s not forget all the bars and pubs around the world that will be tuning in to the big game, with each team’s pride at stake, at 20:45CET.

Both teams’ popularity has spread worldwide, from Haiti to Syria and beyond, where fans of each team sit side-by –side rooting for their favorites to win. On Barça’s website there is even a schedule to help fans all over the globe know when to tune in. For those further East, though, in Tokyo for example, it’s going to be a long night, with kick-off due long after midnight local time.

High spirits

At training, coach Ernesto Valverde had all 22 available members of the squad at his disposal, including Andrés Iniesta, who recently announced his departure from Barça. 

Even with the sun struggling to shine, and odd showers here and there, Barça's spirits remained high. They are only four games away from getting through an entire season without defeat. Even though their hopes of Champions League glory were dashed by AS Roma, at the Ciutat Esportiva training ground they were showing no signs they'd let it get to them.