Clasico: Last 12 meetings in pictures as Ronald Koeman feels the pressure

Barcelona coach has survived a rocky start to season but knows the stakes are high against Real Madrid

Barcelona's Gavi celebrates their 1-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first leg win against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on March 2, 2023. Reuters

Barca's Raphinha celebrates with the Spanish Super Cup after their 3-1 victory against Real at King Fahd International Stadium on January 15, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Getty

Karim Benzema celebrates with Federico Valverde, Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior after scoring in the 3-1 La Liga win against Barca at the Bernabeu on October 16, 2022. Getty

Barcelona's players celebrate their 4-0 La Liga win over Real at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 20, 2022. AFP

Real Madrid celebrate after their 3-2 Spanish Super Cup semi-final win against Barcelona on January 12, 2022, at the King Fahad International stadium in Riyadh. AFP

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos celebrates victory a 2-1 victory at the end of the clasico at Camp Nou on October 24, 2021. AFP

Real's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro receives a red card during the clasico on April 10, 2021, but Real still won the game 2-1. AFP

Lionel Messi and Barca were beaten 3-1 by Real at Camp Nou on October 24, 2020. EPA

Real Madrid players celebrate their win at the end of the clasico on March 1, 2020 - a game they won 2-0. AFP

Lionel Messi of Barcelona holds off Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid at Camp Nou on December 18, 2019. The La Liga encounter ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Getty

An Ivan Rakitic goal gave Barcelona a 1-0 La Liga win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on March 2, 2019. Getty

Luis Suarez scores Barca's third goal in a 3-0 second leg win at the Bernabeu on February 27, 2019 as Barcelona clinch a place in the final of the Copa del Rey. Getty

Brazilian midfielder Malcom celebrates after scoring in a 1-1 first leg semi-final draw of the Copa del Rey at Camp Nou on February 6, 2019. Getty

Arturo Vidal of Barcelona scores his side's fifth goal past Thibaut Courtois during a 5-1 La Liga win at Camp Nou on October 28, 2018. Getty

Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez scores against Real Madrid in a 2-2 La Liga draw at Camp Nou on May 6, 2018. AFP

Lionel Messi scored the second of Barcelona's three goals in a 3-0 La Liga win at the Bernabeu on December 23, 2017. Getty Images

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema scores the second goal during their 2-0 Spanish Super Cup final second leg win at the Bernabeu on August 16, 2017. Getty Images

Lionel Messi scores a penalty but can't prevent Barcelona losing the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid at Camp Nou 3-1 on August 13, 2017. Getty

Ronald Koeman claimed it is not possible for him to be under any more pressure as Barcelona prepare to face Real Madrid in the first clasico of the season on Sunday.

Koeman appeared to be on the brink of losing his job earlier this month after Barca had won only once in six matches.

But club's president Joan Laporta moved to end the speculation by insisting Koeman "deserved the benefit of the doubt" and would stay as coach.

"I don't think it's possible to be under more pressure," said Koeman. "As Barcelona coach you have to take it, no problem. I know the importance of a clasico."

Asked if he still felt the backing of the club, Koeman said smiling: "I have to answer every game if that's the case. I think I am the coach of Barcelona now, tomorrow let's see. I feel supported by the club but I know everything depends on results."

Koeman is well aware of the advantage a full stadium could offer his side against their fierce rivals.

"We won two games in a row and the environment is much better. So we need the support of our fans against Real Madrid. We need a full house and we need to make our people proud.

"We are very excited and looking forward to Sunday. I told the players that they need to enjoy the environment that we will have in Camp Nou. It's not an additional pressure. We have to go out there and be fearless."

The clasico has been the stand-out club fixture over the past decade but Barca and Madrid have both been weakened by financial difficulties and key departures.

"It is still a special match," said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti. "I've lived it before and even without [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, the feelings are the same, nothing changes.

"It's not about individuals. It's about the teams. The players come and go but there will always be Barcelona and Real Madrid."

Barca sit eighth in La Liga after winning four of their opening eight games but they are only two points behind Real.

"This game won't be decisive," added Koeman. "It will just show what kind of moment the two teams are in."

Ancelotti has never won at Camp Nou as a manager, a drought that spans five games across tenures at AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and his first spell at Real Madrid.

"I think the time has come," said Ancelotti.