Steve McManaman spoke to 365Scores in an exclusive interview about the upcoming Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, giving his view on the match and on the Ballon d’Or choice between Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. The report said the Ballon d’Or ceremony was one day away.
His view on the Clásico
Speaking to 365Scores about the upcoming Clásico, McManaman said: "I expect us to see a very competitive match because both teams have the quality to win big games."
He added, discussing the nature of the contest: "It is difficult to confidently predict a winner, but the small details will be decisive in this game, particularly taking the chances that come their way and dealing with the pressure in the key moments of the match."
What he said about Vinícius
Asked about the potential impact of Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior being absent from the Real Madrid lineup, McManaman explained: "Vinícius’s absence would be a major blow because he is a player who can change the course of a game with his exceptional pace and ability in one-on-one situations."
He continued, addressing Kylian Mbappé’s ability to compensate for the Brazilian’s absence: "Mbappé has great qualities, of course, but they are completely different players, and you cannot replace everything Vinícius brings simply by putting another player in his place."
Ballon d’Or choice
With the Ballon d’Or ceremony just one day away, McManaman was asked to choose between Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal. He said: "I would choose Kylian Mbappé. He is a player who can make the difference and score goals in the biggest games, and he has the experience needed to handle the pressure."
He concluded by praising Barcelona’s young talent: "Lamine Yamal is an extremely talented player and has delivered outstanding performances despite his young age. But if I had to choose between the two right now, I would give my vote to Mbappé."
Score prediction
When asked to predict the result of the biggest fixture in Spanish football, McManaman offered his verdict cautiously: "I expect Real Madrid to win 3-1, but let’s see what happens, because this match is always unpredictable."