Varane or Pepe? Zidane ponders Ramos' Clasico partner

Posted Saturday, December 03, 2016 by Marca.com

With less than 24 hours to go until Saturday's El Clasico, the one major selection dilemma for Zinedine Zidane concerns central defence, where Raphael Varane and Pepe are battling it out to partner captain Sergio Ramos.

Thanks to the recent return of Pepe and Ramos from injury, the Real Madrid boss has a full complement of defenders from which to choose for the game against Barcelona, with Nacho Fernandez also available for selection.

Clasicos with Ramos-Pepe

10-11 Copa del Rey Real Madrid 1 - Barcelona 0.
11-12 LaLiga Real Madrid 1 - Barcelona 3
11-12 LaLiga Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 2
11-12 Copa del Rey Real Madrid 1 - Barcelona 2
11-12 Supercopa de Espa?a Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 2.
11-12 Supercopa de Espa?a Barcelona 3 - Real Madrid 2
12-13 LaLiga Barcelona 2 - Real Madrid 2
12-13 Supercopa de Espa?a Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 1
13-14 LaLiga Real Madrid 3 - Barcelona 4
13-14 Copa Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 1
14-15 LaLiga Real Madrid 3 - Barcelona 1
14-15 LaLiga Barcelona 2 - Real Madrid 1
15-16 Liga Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 2

In this case, the default position would be to realign the experienced pair together at the heart of defence for the trip to the Camp Nou, as a Pepe-Ramos axis has helped yield six wins and three draws in 14 Clasico appearances.

However, given the Portuguese centre-back's injury problems, and Varane's assured displays in his absence, Zidane is left with a far more difficult decision as to who partners captain Ramos.

Of the four defenders available to the Frenchman, Varane has played the most minutes this season and also enjoys a 100 percent winning record against the Blaugrana in the previous two encounters he has played against them.
Clasicos with Ramos-Varane

12-13 LaLiga Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 1
12-13 Supercopa de Espa?a Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 3
14-15 LaLiga Barcelona 2 - Real Madrid 1
15-16 LaLiga Real Madrid 0 - Barcelona 4

Although Nacho has also impressed, it is to be expected that the academy product will be on the bench as cover on Sunday, making the possibility of a Varane-Ramos pairing all the more likely.

A brief look at their record of two wins and two draws in four games against Barcelona bodes well for Zidane, and could end up being the deciding factor in his selection.