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Football

Real Madrid or Barcelona? The National writers and editors predict outcome of el clasico

The National staff

November 20, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

Editors and writers for The National Sport make their predictions for the first el clasico of the season. Who’s backing a Real Madrid win and who’s expecting Barcelona to claim all three points?

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Andy Mitten, European Football Correspondent

Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 1 — While the games are almost impossible to predict, goals are always likely. There has not been a goalless clasico for 18 matches. Madrid look more solid defensively than Barcelona this season, but were exposed in their last game against Sevilla. Barcelona meanwhile, have hit form without Lionel Messi.

Thomas Woods, Deputy Sports Editor

Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 0 — One of Rafa Benitez's traits as a manager has been grinding out results in tight games. Madrid have conceded just once at home this season while Barca, as good as Luis Suarez and Neymar have been, will inevitable miss Lionel Messi's ability to unlock stubborn defences. One goal will decide it and Madrid have the edge — Cristiano Ronaldo.

Jon Turner, Online Sports Editor

Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 2 — Real Madrid may boast the second-meanest defence in the league, but the three conceded at Sevilla last time out shows they are far from impenetrable. Despite the likely absence of Lionel Messi, Barcelona will still be able to call on the Primera Liga's two leading goalscorers in Neymar (10) and Luis Suarez (9). Madrid, of course boast their own fearsome attacking line so expect goals at both ends of the pitch.

Graham Caygill, Senior Sports Editor

Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 1 — Neither side has been consistently at their best so far this season, but Rafa Benitez's arrival as coach has led to Madrid improve defensively. Given the quality of offensive players on the pitch there will be goals in the game despite both sides have improved on their defensive work this season. Cristiano Ronaldo will be the difference maker. There have been questions over his form of late and the striker is at his most dangerous when he has a point to prove.

Paul Oberjuerge, Sports Editor

Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 2 — The hosts will have trouble scoring; Cristiano Ronaldo is in a funk, probably contract-related, and Karim Benzema has been distracted by legal wrangling, and no one expects Gareth Bale to make a difference. Meantime, Barca's Neymar and Luis Suarez are in form and should be able to break down Madrid for a couple of goals, even if Lionel Messi, apparently recovered from a knee injury, is not at full strength — or does not play at all.

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Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

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“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

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BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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1.           Featherweight 66kg

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Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)

4.           Lightweight 70kg

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5.           Featherweight 66kg

Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)

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Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)

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Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)

9.           Featherweight 66kg

Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)

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The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties? 
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1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)

2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)

3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)

4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)

5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)

6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)

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12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)

NeymarBarcelonaCristiano RonaldoLionel Messi