How Can Barcelona Replace Neymar and Still Win El Clasico?

Barcelona have suffered one or two setbacks over the last week or so, losing to Malaga in La Liga and to Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, but perhaps the biggest obstacle they must overcome is still ahead: Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, a final chance to claw back ground in the race for the league title.

The Catalan side's task won't be made any easier with the news that Neymar will be absent through suspension; the Brazilian was sent-off against Malaga, and after applauding the fourth official on his way off the pitch, he has been handed an extended ban.

Still three points behind with a game more played, Barcelona cannot afford anything other than victory in the Bernabeu to keep their title hopes alive—so how can they see off their rivals without one of their most in-form and spectacular attacking outlets?

Tactical Solution, Part 1: 4-3-3 and Replacing Scoring Chances

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

First up, Luis Enrique has to decide between two formations: the 4-3-3 that has habitually been Barca's template, or the 3-4-3 he has switched the team to of late, particularly for the big games.

In truth, the tactical switch hasn't paid off for Barca, and it asks a lot of the likes of Sergi Roberto to cover extra ground. Moving back to 4-3-3 might be the better option for the players to be more comfortable in their roles, and certainly Barca looked better against Juve in the second half once they had reverted to that system.

Should Lucho opt for that, he needs a replacement left forward, with the midfield able to contain the usual faces—and with Rafinha injured, that should mean Arda Turan steps in.

The Turk hasn't been involved of late after picking up an injury at the end of March, but he's due to return before El Clasico and, fitness permitting, should be the starter ahead of Paco Alcacer or Denis Suarez, or an additional midfield option.

Turan has 13 goals this season, mostly coming from the left side of attack, and in league play, he posts more key passes per game than any other Barca player outside the regular front three (per WhoScored), and only Neymar, Leo Messi and Andres Iniesta complete more dribbles per game. That kind of incision and offensive intent will be paramount at the Bernabeu, and Turan deserves the nod.

Tactical Solution, Part 2: 3-4-3 and Maintaining Better Balance

fotopress/Getty Images

Of course, if Lucho sticks with his 3-4-3, then it's a different matter, with a different set of responsibilities to help cover the left side.

With Barca struggling at times to cope with the fluidity of the system—three at the back on the ball, dropping back into a back four out of possession with the midfielders tucking in from out—the best bet might be to bring in a balancing act on the side of midfield in Jordi Alba.

The left-back has the physical prowess and pace to get up and down the flank and, while his technical ability might not be on par with Ivan Rakitic and Co., he offers an outlet, cover on the wing against Real's pacy forwards and can overlap the frontman.

In turn, that would allow Iniesta to reprise his old role of playing on the left of the front three.

He's not likely to offer an enormous goal threat, but his intelligence and creativity on the ball is undiminished, and it could work in Barcelona's favour to either free up more space for Luis Suarez to exploit or else to leave that gap ahead for Alba to penetrate from deep.

Iniesta will work relentlessly, will track back into midfield and allow Barcelona the opportunity to overload Real Madrid in the middle third, while certainly not giving a drop-off to the attacking line in terms of creating chances.

Set-Piece Delivery

Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images

Neymar's goal threat has been somewhat reduced this season, with nine strikes in La Liga, but it's not on account of his all-round game being poor. Indeed, he has elevated his level once again this year, and part of that has resulted in the Brazilian creating huge volumes of chances for his team-mates.

With 10 assists in La Liga, only team-mate Luis Suarez and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos have more (both 11), and Neymar and Kroos share one trait in common: They both take tremendous set pieces, with the delivery accurate and fired in at pace.

No Neymar means no right-footed delivery from free-kicks; while Messi will still take control from the opposite side, Barca should hand over duty from Neymar's half of the pitch to Suarez.

The striker had an incredible rate of finding the back of the net from dead balls while at Liverpool, and even at Barca, where the chances are few and far between to take over around the edge of the box, he has already netted from similar situations.

On corners, it depends somewhat on the lineup, but only Real Madrid have scored more off set pieces than Barca this season, so continuing that fine delivery could be critical in splitting the fine margins between the sides.

Supply Line to the Frontmen

Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images

Barcelona average 14.8 shots per game away from home this season, with Neymar averaging just under three key passes per away match.

That's around a fifth of their shooting opportunities stemming directly from his lay-offs, dribbles or incisive passes—and that's not counting those actions he does that allow a team-mate in turn to make the final pass before a shot.

Neymar plays a huge role in Barca's buildup play, and the emphasis must be on the midfield line stepping up to bear more responsibility in El Clasico, not just relying on Messi to create magic.

Rakitic was one of the league's standout players last year, but he has been well off the pace recently and before that wasn't even in the XI. Andre Gomes has barely put a foot right in 2017 and Denis, while still reasonably inexperienced, only seems to impact in fits and starts still.

Someone has to not just set the tempo for Barca from the middle third, but also be brave and positive enough to drive forward and open up spaces.

Only then will Messi and Suarez be able to deliver their final-third prowess with regularity, rather than having to combine themselves to create everything.

Controlling Spaces

fotopress/Getty Images

Attacking is only one half of the match, though, and as was shown against Juventus, closing out spaces when teams counter-attack or press Barcelona high is imperative.

Sergio Busquets was missed in the first leg, and his natural ability to step across challenges, close out the passing lanes and spot runners from deep will be pivotal in helping Barca overcome Los Blancos. Whether 4-3-3 or 3-4-3, he'll be in place at the base of midfield and needs to be completely on top of his game, which hasn't always been the case this season.

Real's first-choice midfield trio—Casemiro, Kroos, Luka Modric—have a fine mix of skills between them, with movement and the ability to quickly spring counters chief among them. Busquets is the one responsible for not allowing those moments of danger to develop, but he needs his support act in the middle to work tremendously hard alongside him.

Barcelona must score to win, but their away record is not good of late: 13 conceded in the last six games, no clean sheet in seven on the road and only two wins in that span.

Defeat, or even a draw, is unthinkable if they want to overhaul Real Madrid and win the league this season, and that means near-perfection is required off the ball as well as replacing Neymar in the attack.