From Real Madrid Target to Barcelona Star: Fermin Lopez Faces His 10th Clasico

Real Madrid and Barcelona are just a few days away from facing each other in El Clasico. The most important match in this first half of the season for both, since, while for the merengues it is a golden opportunity to be able to get to just three points behind, for the blaugranas it is to stretch the gap to nine points with their archrival and be able to have a wider margin for maneuver.

One of the players who would be receiving the opportunity to be in the Catalans' starting eleven is Fermin Lopez. The Barça academy player is called upon to be one of the important figures in the offense, all due to the injury Dani Olmo suffered in last Tuesday's match against Paris Saint-Germain. This opens the opportunity for him to be the starting attacking midfielder at the Camp Nou next Sunday.

For Fermin, Real Madrid is a different rival, not only because of his blaugrana feeling, but because the white club was circling him during his formative stage, but neither he nor his family paid attention to their offers. "There was indeed that interest, but my father told me very few things. If he had asked my opinion, I would have chosen Barça anyway, because it was my great dream. I am very happy to have made it come true, and I hope I can be here for many years," he has commented in multiple interviews.

The Andalusian has not had a substitute role with Olmo during the current season. Hansi Flick usually rotates them; in the 12 matches played, they have practically split the half between the two. The Andalusian has been present in 11 matches so far this season, being a starter in seven of them; the only match in which he did not see action was against Racing de Santander. He has five goals and four assists to his credit.

For its part, Real Madrid arrives complete for this match, or at least without new injuries. Everything seems to indicate that Federico Valverde will start again at right back ahead of Trent or Dumfries. Yan Diomande is likely to take Vinicius' place on the left flank, since the Brazilian is still serving a four-match suspension for having pulled Saliba's hair, of Villarreal.

Kylian Mbappe must come in switched on for this match. He is Madrid's most powerful offensive weapon. Along with Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Diomande, they will be the ones in charge of stopping the dominance Barcelona has had in recent Clasicos. The objective is clear, but difficult: beating the Culers at the Camp Nou to get to just three points behind the lead. Will it happen? We will find out on Sunday.