Pau Cubarsi says Barcelona must be alert to Real Madrid’s match-winners

Pau Cubarsi has warned Barcelona they must remain focused for the full 90 minutes when they face Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clasico at Spotify Camp Nou.

The La Liga meeting, part of the competition’s 10th round, will test Barcelona against a Real Madrid side whose squad contains several players capable of changing the game, according to the Spanish defender.

Cubarsi also highlighted the recent form of Ivorian forward Yan Diomande, who he believes Barcelona must work hard to contain.

“Diomande has produced some very strong performances in the last few matches, and Real Madrid now have very clear ideas about the way they want to play,” Cubarsi told ESPN.

“We have to concentrate carefully and try to stop him, as well as the rest of their players, so that we reduce the chances they can create as much as possible and give ourselves a better opportunity to win.”

The Barcelona defender also praised Brazilian striker Endrick, saying the 18-year-old had started to find his rhythm after initially receiving limited opportunities.

“Endrick is a very good player and has great potential,” Cubarsi said. “Perhaps he did not get many chances at the beginning, but he is now starting to gain match rhythm and recover his consistency.

“He is also one of the players we need to pay close attention to.”

Cubarsi was asked whether Vinicius Junior’s absence from the fixture would give Barcelona an advantage, but said his side did not focus heavily on the individuals available to the opposition.

“To be honest, we do not concentrate too much on the players the opposition have,” he said. “When we know the starting line-up, we prepare mentally to face the players we will need to stop, but we also bear in mind the players who are on the bench.”

The main threat for Barcelona will be Kylian Mbappe, who Cubarsi believes can settle the contest on his own.

“Mbappe is a player with immense ability and he can make the difference by himself,” he said. “You have to maintain your concentration for the entire 90 minutes because you know he is capable of deciding the match at any moment.

“That is why we must be at our highest level of concentration when facing him.”