The Clasico is upon us as this Sunday as Real Madrid and Barcelona take each other in the first official match of the 2012-13 season. They played earlier in the season in the Spanish super cup and split two one goal decisions, but Real Madrid won the Cup after scoring more away goals than their rivals. As we head into the Sunday bout, we will preview the two sides at every position to determine which squad has been better and has a greater chance at winning going into Sunday's match.
Today we will compare the two top keepers in this match.
Victor Valdes (Barcelona)
Valdes has long been the number one guy for Barcelona and one of the most active participants in this rivalry with Madrid. Unlike his counterpart at the opposite net, Valdes has a winning recording in his career against Real Madrid, In League matches he has a record of 9 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses. He has only allowed 25 goals against in those league matches and last had a clean sheet against Real Madrid in November 2010. In all other competitions he has won 4, drawn 2, and lost 2 against Real Madrid. He has only allowed 5 goals to date in La Liga which is good for a third place tie for fewest in La Liga. More important however is that only one of the five goals has come at Camp Nou meaning that the keeper has continued his strong play at his home field. He did allow four goals in other competitions such as the Spanish Cup and UCL at Camp Nou this season and two of them were to this very same Real Madrid squad.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Casillas has experience more matches than Valdes in the Clasico, but his record is less favorable as he has 8 wins, 8 draw, and 11 losses in League play against Barcelona. In those matches Casillas has allowed an unbelievable 43 goals (of which 21 have come since 2008) and his last clean sheet against Barca has not come since December of 2007. In other competitions he has just three wins, four draws, and four losses. It is pretty telling that his team does not perform well in front when you have more draws than wins in a run that has lasted over 12 years for Casillas.
This season he has been his stellar self, but there have been a few untidy moments for the keeper in La Liga play. He has won fewer games than Valdes, but has somehow allowed the same number of goals and made just two few saves in that span. He has given up 3 away goals in La Liga heading into Camp Nou on Sunday. In other competitions that number grows to five without including the match against Ajax Amsterdam.
Edge: Casillas is probably the best keeper in the world, but he is getting older and Valdes has outplayed him in Clasico matches. Valdes is also at home, where he is hard to top. Barcelona has the edge in goal.
Which club has better Strikers? Who wins the Messi Ronalod battle? Find out HERE.
Find out who has the better midfield HERE.
Find out which squad has better defenders HERE.
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