Mesut Ozil blames Barcelona for El-Classico dip but recalls facing their invincible side

The stage is set for a fiery El Clasico clash on April 22nd as Barcelona travels to the newly renovated Santiago Bernabeu to face arch-rivals Real Madrid. With Real leading La Liga by eight points, the pressure is on Barcelona to close the gap. This match could be a turning point in the title race. Barcelona will be desperate for a win, while Real Madrid will look to extend their lead and solidify their grip on the championship. The atmosphere in the Bernabeu promises to be electric, making this a must-watch for any football fan.

Ahead of the game, former Real Madrid star, Mesut Ozil has put out his thoughts on the game. Ozil believes the quality of the historic clash has diminished due to Barcelona's recent struggles. While Real Madrid has been dominant in La Liga, Barcelona's inconsistency has arguably lessened the spectacle of the fixture. "I think the Clasico has gone down and it's a shame. But that's not Real Madrid's fault, as they are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the world. The problem is Barca, who have lost potential," he said.

"They should look a little bit more at themselves'

The former Real Madrid star acknowledged the fact that injuries haven't helped Barcelona but added a sharp critique. Ozil suggests Barcelona needs to focus on their own game rather than dwelling on referee decisions. "Barcelona are fighting, they're trying. They have good players in all positions, but they've had too many injuries this season and maybe they should look a little bit more at themselves and their mistakes and not always complain about the referees. This doesn't help," the 35-year-old said.

While highlighting Barcelona's current issues, he also reminisced about his El Clasico battles with Real Madrid. He acknowledges his "bad luck" of facing arguably Barcelona's greatest-ever team, hinting at a time when El Clasico was even fiercer. "Unfortunately for us, Barca was perhaps the best Barca in history. Pep's Barca was on another level, certainly different from the current Barca. I think right now at a global level the focus is more on games like Liverpool-Manchester City or other Premier League duels.

It remains to be seen if Barcelona can rise to the occasion and recapture that bygone era of epic clashes or if Real Madrid will reign supreme, proving Ozil's point about Barcelona's decline.