Gareth Bale

El Clasico 2018 Time, Preview, Team News And Prediction 

Barcelona vs. Real Madrid | Camp Nou

Sunday, October 28, 2018 | 11:15 a.m. ET

TV: beIN SPORTS USA or beIN SPORTS en Español

Stream: Fubo TV, Sling TV or beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A 

Marco Asensio scored in the 41st minute of a 1-0 win over Espanyol on Sept. 22. 

Los Blancos haven’t scored in four matches since.

In a stunning turn of events for a club that’s won four of the last five Champions League trophies, the Real Madrid goalless streak has reached a remarkable 409 minutes — nearly seven full hours.

I think it’s safe to say Julen Lopetegui’s club has reached a crisis of Jose-Mourinho-at-Manchester-United proportions, except Mourinho was actually able to get a win on Saturday. 

When Atletico and Real Madrid last met, Atletico scored a wild 4-2 win in extra time in the UEFA Super Cup in August in Tallinn, Estonia. On Saturday at the Bernabeu, no one won the Madrid Derby — except maybe Barcelona.

In a fairly tame Madrid Derby, neither side could find a way to score in a 0-0 draw. Atletico will take the road point (it hasn't lost in the Bernabeu in six years), but Real will rue the chance to go atop the LaLiga table. 

Wednesday featured the first Champions League matches for both Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid since the two parted ways over the summer. Ronaldo, now with Juventus, was sent off after 29 minutes. Real Madrid, with a Welsh winger leading the line, scored a 3-0 win thanks to a brilliant Gareth Bale goal vs Roma. 

There are a few unstoppable feats in sports, like an Allen Iverson crossover, a Barry Sanders sweep or a Nolan Ryan fastball. You know it’s coming, but you still can’t beat it. This Gareth Bale goal vs Ireland fell into that category.

We’re only two matches into the LaLiga season and Real Madrid’s only registered wins against the sides that finished in eighth and 10th last year, but the unprovable, platitudinous cliches are already being thrown at Real: “This side plays better as a team without Cristiano Ronaldo!” and “Gareth Bale is emerging from Ronaldo’s shadow!”  

Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus, questions have been whirling about as to who will fill his shoes and be the leading man for los Blancos this season. What star will Madrid pluck from another European giant for an absurd sum of money? What precocious youngster will hastily be labeled "The Next Ronaldo?”