Real Madrid is sitting pretty at the top of La Liga, holding an eight-point lead over Barcelona after just one league defeat. Furthermore, Los Blancos have won seven out of their first seven games in the Champions League this season, equalling their best start to a European Cup campaign. They are in frightening form ahead of the latest instalment of El Clasico!
To Win (90 mins)
Real Madrid 7/10
Draw 29/10
Barcelona 33/10
Real Madrid
Aurelien Tchouameni’s long-range goal against Mallorca was enough to get Real Madrid off to winning ways in what is a pivotal week in their season. The Spanish giants has a mid-week appointment with Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, before the all-important clash with Barca.
With one eye on their trip to the Etihad, Carlo Ancelotti deemed it necessary to rotate players ahead of their bout with Mallorca, last time out. The likes of Dani Carvajal, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos, and Vinicius Junior – who all started in Real’s 3-3 draw against Man City at the Bernabeu – featured on the substitute’s bench. Furthermore, Jude Bellingham played just over an hour for Madrid, before he was withdrawn in that one.
The current La Liga leaders have opened up an eight-point advantage at the summit of the standings and are showing no signs of slowing down. The champions-elect have seven league fixtures and the title race would almost certainly be over with victory over the second-placed Barcelona.
Barcelona
The evenly poised balance between positives and negatives reflects the work of manager Xavi. The tired tactician has been forced to make tactical compromises to satisfy short-term demands for success.
There is no doubt that the former Blaugrana player has made his beloved Barcelona better, since he was appointed in November 2021. The club was a mess, with a lack of direction on the field and the aftermath of a financial disaster behind the scenes had hit home.
In La Liga, he would guide them to second place before lifting the trophy in his first full season with the club. Of course, that title-winning season included a commanding run of 12 wins in 13 games, which laid the foundation for their first league title in four years.
This season, their title defense has become undone due to their defensive woes. Last season, they had shipped just eight goals during the opening 23 games. This season, they have already conceded fourteen more league goals than they did throughout last season.
Xavi has come out and said his decision to step down in the summer has sparked the team’s resurgence on the domestic and European front. Barça are unbeaten in 13 competitive matches since the head coach announced his departure in January, during this time they have climbed to second in the league and progressed to the Champions League quarterfinals.
Verdict: Real Madrid at 13/10
Don Carlo has been taking no prisoners at the revamped Santiago Bernabeu. Playing in front of their fans, Real will be highly motivated for this fixture and look to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Written by Desh Parthab