Real Madrid v Barcelona – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Real Madrid host Barcelona at Alfredo Di Stéfano training pitch on Saturday night in La Liga. The hosts won the most recent league El Clasico with a 3-1 victory at the Camp Nou in October. Barcelona are looking for this first league win against Los Blancos since March 2019 with Zidane’s side three unbeaten in that time. Both sides are in the thick of the title race as they chase down Atletico Madrid but the home side have the added distraction of Champions League involvement.

Real Madrid Form

Los Blancos appear to be hitting top form at just the right time. Zidane’s side are 12 matches unbeaten with ten wins and two draws. Real Madrid won 1-0 away at Atalanta before needing late goals to rescue a point at home to Real Sociedad and away at Atletico Madrid. They have since won three consecutive matches in La Liga and also beaten Atalanta 3-1 at home.

In their last match, Madrid were superb in beating Liverpool 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals first leg. Vinicius Junior scored a brace and Marco Asensio got the other.

Real Madrid Team News

Madrid are again expected to be missing both Sergio Ramos (injury) and Raphael Varane (COVID-19) in central defence so Nacho and Eder Militao could cover. Should Zidane decide to switch to a back three then Ferland Mendy would play at left centre back with Marcelo starting at left wingback.

Dani Carvajal remains injured at right back and winger Eden Hazard is very doubtful and will be on the bench at best. Zidane could perhaps start Federico Valverde to protect Luka Modric for the Champions League whilst Isco is another option if he wants to freshen up the team.

Real Madrid Motivation

Real Madrid need to play to win. They currently sit three points off Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga and two points behind Barcelona with a much inferior goal difference. A draw wouldn’t end their title hopes even if Atletico win away at sixth-placed Real Betis but it would make it a very difficult task.

If Zidane has real hopes of lifting the title then his side need to win this match. With the second leg against Liverpool to play on Wednesday, some Madrid players may be distracted so full attention and motivation may not be on this clash.

Barcelona Form

Barca have lost just two of their last 18 matches in all competitions, a 2-0 Coppa del Rey first leg defeat to Sevilla which they overturned in the second leg (by winning 3-0) and a 4-1 home thrashing by PSG in the Champions League.

In La Liga, Ronald Koeman’s team are 19 matches unbeaten since losing at Cadiz in December 2020. Their away league form is sensational with nine consecutive victories on their travels including 6-1 at Real Sociedad in their last away match. That run of wins has seen six clean sheets.

Barca have won seven of their last eight matches with only a 1-1 away draw at PSG not seeing victory. In that match, Koeman’s side should have been out of sight in the first half and could arguably have levelled the tie based on their quality of chances. The aggregate scoreline over the last eight matches is 22-3 with the side in superb scoring form.

Barcelona Team News

After having more surgery, Philippe Coutinho is out for the season. Ansu Fati is also still a long way from a return on the left wing after knee surgery. Gerard Pique has been having knee problems but is nearing availability. He may be back for this match but only on the bench as a precaution. Utility man Sergi Roberto is also back in training after a long lay-off and could be amongst the substitutes.

Koeman has been setting up in many recent matches with a back three that has Frenkie de Jong at the heart of it. He has been using Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in support of Ousmane Dembele but may be conservative and choose only two of them for this match with an extra midfielder added.

Barcelona Motivation

Barcelona need to win to chase down Atletico (one point behind) but a draw is a better result from this match for them than for Real Madrid, considering they have two points more and are away from home. Koeman could therefore be relatively satisfied with a point and hope that his side can catch Atleti over the final eight matches with a gap of at most three points after the weekend.

Key Stats

Real Madrid are 12 matches unbeaten in all competitions (10 wins, 2 draws)

Los Blancos have won 6 of their last 7 home matches

Barcelona have won 7 of their last 8 matches (22-3 aggregate)

Barca have won 9 away La Liga matches in a row

Barcelona are 19 La Liga matches unbeaten (16 wins, 3 draws)

Real Madrid are unbeaten in three La Liga matches vs Barcelona (2 wins, 1 draw, 5-1 aggregate)

Prediction

This match is a tough one to predict because Real Madrid have the major distraction of a trip to Anfield on Wednesday whilst Barcelona could still be in a very good position even if they draw this weekend and Atletico win away at Real Betis (no foregone conclusion). Therefore, a draw looks like the best bet and most likely outcome.