Saturday’s LaLiga clash between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the first Clasico of the 2017/18 campaign produced by Mediapro, will feature the use of technology befitting what is considered to be the greatest fixture in world football.
Two of football’s biggest two clubs go head-to-head at the Santiago Bernabeu in a contest that will be beamed live to followers in 182 countries. The millions of television viewers will be made to feel as if they were at the game themselves thanks to the ground-breaking technology in place for the eagerly anticipated showdown.
To ensure that fans do not miss out on any of the action, the fixture’s biggest stars, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, will both be tracked by dedicated player cameras throughout the 90 minutes.
Two cameras will get up close and personal with the Portuguese forward and the Argentine forward, allowing supporters to feast their eyes on every last move made by the global superstars. The same applies to the two managers, with a pair of cameras set to be trained on Zinedine Zidane and Ernesto Valverde right from the first whistle.
In an effort to make television viewers feel as if they were lapping up the action from a seat in the stands, the Bernabeu is also to be equipped with a virtual Be The Player camera, which features Intel’s 360° technology and represents a first for a LaLiga broadcast. This camera captures events from the player’s perspective, offering spectators the same view of the match as their heroes. Another new feature which is set to be rolled out is the Laser Wall, a virtual wall that provides viewers with a clearer picture in relation to whether players are located in offside positions.
For the first time in LaLiga history, El Clasico will be produced in its entirety in 4K-HDR resolution. In addition, the coverage will break new ground with the 30 cameras to be deployed representing a global record for a 4K broadcast.
By way of contrast, in the 2017 UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff, 10 real-time 4K cameras were used, with the remainder being HD to 4K upgrades sourced from the HD
broadcast.
The two old rivals look set to battle it out again for the Spanish crown this season, with Barca making the stronger start under new boss Ernesto Valverde.
These matches can be vital in deciding the destination of the title, though, and Madrid will look to strike back on home turf.
| Positions | Real Madrid players |
| Goal keepers | Navas, Casilla, Moha |
| Defenders | Carvajal, Vallejo, Ramos, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Theo, Achraf |
| Midfielders | Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Llorente, Asensio, Isco, Kovacic, Ceballos |
| Forwards | Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Vazquez, Mayoral |
Cristiano Ronaldo has trained alone this week after feeling his calf in the Club World Cup final, but has insisted he will play.
Gareth Bale has made a couple of cameos off the bench and should feature among the substitutes again. Third-choice goalkeeper Luca Zidane, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, is Madrid’s only definite absentee.
Potential starting XI: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.
| Positions | Barcelona players |
| Goal keepers | Ter Stegen, Cillessen |
| Defenders | Semedo, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Digne, Vidal, Vermaelen |
| Midfielders | Rakitic, Busquets, D. Suarez, Arda, Iniesta, Rafinha, Paulinho, Roberto, Gomes |
| Forwards | L. Suarez, Messi, Dembele, Deulofeu |
Barca are without Samuel Umtiti (hamstring), who will not play again this year, while Ousmane Dembele is back in training but is unlikely to be rushed into this game.
Paco Alcacer is also out and Gerard Deulofeu is a doubt, further limiting Valverde’s options beyond Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack. Rafinha looks set to be available in some capacity, however, after an eight-month lay-off due to two knee surgeries.
Potential starting XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Rakitic, Paulinho, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez.
