Despite the reduction in star power on show, the El Clasico is still the most compelling club football game around. When these two clubs meet on Sunday evening, all eyes will turn to the game, as always.
Madrid top the La Liga table and are outright favorites to win the title. Despite the loss of Sergio Ramos and Varane, experienced players like Benzema, Courtois and Modric have propelled them to their present position, along with younger players like Eder Militao and Vinicius Junior.
Just when everyone thought Barcelona were down and out, the announcement of playing legend, Xavi Hernandez as their new manager revitalized them. His nous and flexibility, coupled with savvy signings have since propelled them back up the table and into the top four. They’re not in contention for the title but if they win, things suddenly become dicier for the home side.
Read on for our El Clasico betting tips, H2H review, Form guide, transfer chatter and match prediction below!
Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona Head-to-head Record
This fixture has been played 65 times. Appropriately for such a fiercely-contested rivalry, the H2H is almost a tie. Real Madrid have won 23 games while Barcelona have 24 wins. Both sides have also split the points 18 times.
In the last 10 H2H games, the Lilywhites have won 5 games to Barcelona’s 3 while the fixture has ended in a draw twice. Showing the extent of their recent superiority, Real Madrid have won the last four games in a row.
Currently, Real Madrid are in first place, 15 points clear of 3rd-placed Barcelona.
Form Guide
Real Madrid have a perfect record with 5 wins from the last 5 games.
(Form: W-W-W-W-W).
Barcelona have also been in good form over that period with 4 wins and 1 draw.
(Form: W-W-D-W-W)
Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona team news
French left back, Ferland Mendy is still injured and will miss this game. It’s hard to see Madrid Head Coach, Carlo Ancelotti allow Marcelo to be targeted and picked apart by either Adama Traoré or Ousmane Dembele, so expect Nacho Fernandez to be his replacement.
Keep an eye out for a late Karim Benzema injury update – their star striker picked up a knock recently and is a doubt for the game. Madridistas will be hoping their best player is fit enough to start and lead them to victory against their hated rivals.
The rest of the Real Madrid squad is fit and should all make the XI against Barcelona.
Expected starting XI: Thibaut Courtois. Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Nacho Fernandez. Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric. Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema (if fit), Vinicius Junior.
Ansu Fati, Samuel Umtiti, Sergi Roberto and Alejandro Balde are out injured and will definitely miss the game, while American full back, Sergiño Dest is a doubt for the game after tweaking his hamstring against Galatasaray.
The Barcelona Squad has been humming along nicely since Xavi was appointed as head coach and will be up for the game of their lives tomorrow.
Expected starting XI: Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Dani Alves, Ronaldo Araujo, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba. Pedri, Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong. Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ousmane Dembele.
Transfer Chatter
A fixture that once featured some of the best players in the world, led by living legends, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi looks set to add some new superstars soon.
Real Madrid Transfer News: Kylian Mbappe has been pursued by Real Madrid for years now. If they’re getting him, it will be this summer. Borussia Dortmund striker, Erling Haaland is also coveted by both sides and is expected to make a choice between these two teams and Manchester City in the summer.
Barcelona Transfer News: Mo Salah’s contract stand-off with Liverpool is also being monitored closely by Barcelona. If he ends up leaving the Reds, these two sides, along with PSG are the only realistic options for him.
Man United forward, Marcus Rashford is another player whose name has popped up in transfer chatter recently. It would be a surprise to see him join either club given his current form but then, stranger things have happened in football.
Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona Prediction
The two sides are on the top of their game right now and might even end up finishing 1st and 2nd in the Spanish La Liga this season. Since they lost out narrowly to Atletico Madrid last year, the Real Madrid players have added a ruthless edge to their game, taking points from games they hadn’t particularly played well in. if Madrid win this one, it’s going to be an easy canter to the title for them.
Some months ago, this would have been seen as an easy win for Real Madrid. It’s a testament to the work that Xavi has done in a short period of time that the Blaugrana will have legitimate expectations of leaving the Santiago Bernabeu with a positive result on Sunday.
Our Predictions: Historically, there have been goals connected to this fixture with 3.18 goals per game. We predict:
Over 2.5
BTTS
Real Madrid win
As usual, we have the best El Clasico odds and bonuses. Bet on the game here on BetKing!
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