Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, El Clasico 2014-15 - Iker Casillas vs. Claudio Bravo - Which Team Has Better Goalkeeper?
The Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona is just weeks away.
One of the main storylines heading into the big game will come down to keeping goals out of the net.
Obviously, the defense has a great deal to do with this, but goaltending will likely be key in this high-scoring affair. To put things into perspective, the last time a meeting between these two sides in the Spanish League ended with a clean sheet was back on November 29, 2010 when Barcelona lit up Madrid by the score of 5-0. The last time the two sides battled to a scoreless draw was on November 23, 2002. The odds are clearly against a shutout or scoreless draw.
In the last meeting between the teams, Barcelona won 4-3, including a hat trick from Lionel Messi and a total of three penalty shots and one red card.
So which team has better goaltending?
Real Madrid
Of all the goalies involved in this year's Clasico, Iker Casillas is the one most experienced with the match-up. He has been a part of the competition since he first arrived at Madrid. However, he has not contested a Clasico in the Spanish League since the 2-2 draw in late 2012. He did play in last Spring's Copa del Rey match-up (and won 2-1), but in the actual league he has not won against Barcelona since April 2012 in a game that all but clinched the title for Real Madrid. Ironically, the team has not won the title since that season and the performance in that Clasico was a huge boost toward those fortunes.
Casillas knows the drill, but his current form is highly questionable. Despite a solid turn against Villarreal, there is still some hesitance about defending aerial balls. He is regaining his confidence and more playing time between now and the Clasico could go a long way toward getting ready for his biggest game of the year.
If he is not up to task, then the team can rely on Keylor Navas. The Costa Rican was the star keeper of the World Cup as he helped his nation make it to the quarterfinals. He knows what it feels like to be under siege (which Madrid will undoubtedly be in the Clasico) and if he is in top form, he could help his team hold the fort against its hated rivals. Navas got to play against Elche this past week, implying that there is still a possibility that he could take over from Casillas in coming weeks.
The instability regarding the goaltending situation could cause some issues for Los Blancos. But if it is sorted out sooner than later (meaning either Casillas shapes up or Navas takes over), the team should be good to go in this essential position.
Barcelona
Claudio Bravo is the main man right now in the Spanish League. He has gotten all the starts in Spain over Marc Andre Ter Stegen and that is unlikely to change from now until late October. Especially when considering his tremendous start to the year. He has yet to concede a single goal and has made seven saves in six games. That obviously points to one thing -- Bravo has hardly been tested on the back end. That has a lot to do with Barcelona's top end defense, but also the competition's ineptitude. Madrid will get a shot on goal. Probably three or four or even five at the minimum. So Bravo will be tested. How will he hold up against the intense pressure? That will be the question he has to answer for his team.
Edge: Considering the statistics, Barcelona has to get the edge. No goals conceded has as much to do with the defense as the goalies. However, Casillas has experience and knows how to handle pressure in this game. The same cannot be said for Bravo, who could find himself overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
For the latest sports news, follow Latin Post Sports on Twitter.