Jurgen Klopp picks Barcelona over Real Madrid ahead of crucial El Clasico: ‘I support the better team’

Jurgen Klopp picks Barcelona over Real Madrid ahead of crucial El Clasico: ‘I support the better team’ Jurgen Klopp believes Barcelona are currently the stronger side ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico, backing Hansi Flick’s team to have the edge over Real Madrid despite their contrasting results in the Champions League.  The German head coach will be watching the showdown at Spotify Camp Nou , where Barcelona can strengthen their position at the top of La Liga and extend their six-point advantage over their fiercest rivals with a victory. The former Liverpool manager also revealed why he used to favour Barcelona when watching the rivalry, pointing to his dislike of Real Madrid’s defensive approach during the era of Pepe.  Klopp now considers himself a neutral observer, but his assessment of the teams’ current levels gives Barcelona a strong endorsement ahead of a fixture that could have a significant impact on the title race. Klopp explains why he favours Barcelona over Real Madrid Klopp confirmed that El Clasico remains a fixture he has followed throughout his life, regardless of where he has been working.  Jurgen Klopp has backed Barcelona for El Clasico. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) His historical preference for Barcelona, however, was shaped by his reaction to the way Madrid defended during some of the rivalry’s most intense encounters. “Of course I’ll watch El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. I’ve watched this game at every stage of my life. “In the past, I was more of a Barcelona supporter because I used to hate it when Pepe and the other defenders used to clear everything out of the way back then. “That’s the only reason I always supported Barça. These days, I watch it with a neutral perspective. “Today, I support the better team. And looking at things at the moment, that is probably Barcelona,” he told Buli News . Barcelona face Real Madrid with six-point lead at stake Barcelona are the favourites to beat Real Madrid. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images) Barcelona enter the Clasico six points ahead of Real Madrid, giving the contest added importance.  A home victory would allow Flick’s side to increase that margin and put further pressure on their rivals early in the campaign. However, Barcelona’s preparations have not been entirely straightforward, as their first defeat of the season came against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, with the French side exposing defensive weaknesses and securing a 4-2 victory. Real Madrid, by contrast, head into the weekend after beating RB Leipzig 4-1 in Europe.  That result offers the visitors a confidence boost and presents a different picture from the league standings, where Barcelona hold the advantage.