Barcelona v Real Madrid Match Result
The Spanish La Liga betting sites make Barcelona 50% likely to land a victory against Real Madrid on Saturday. They have been the best team in Spain this season, winning twenty-five of their thirty-four domestic games played this term. They have an astonishing goal difference with +58, with the Catalan side having currently pilfered 91 goals.
However, this game comes hard on the heels of a difficult week. On Tuesday night, Barca came from 5-3 down on aggregate at the San Siro to lead 6-5 before being pegged back at the death. They were then beaten in extra-time and it was a defeat which will have really hurt. Recovery from 120 minutes and emotional disappointment could mean that they are vulnerable in this game.
Real Madrid won the title by ten points last season and will still feel as though they can retain their crown. The defensive shortcomings that were demonstrated by Barcelona over two games against Inter Milan will have given Los Merengues plenty of encouragement that they can find a way to score a few goals and win the game.
Carlo Ancelotti will be keen to sign off a hugely successful managerial stint at the Bernabeu with a win in the Clasico and the chance to win a league title. Since losing to Arsenal in the Champions League, the form has been good and there have been La Liga wins over Athletic Bilbao, Getafe and Celta Vigo.
The teams met recently in the Copa del Rey where Real came back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 lead before being pegged back and eventually losing in extra-time. However, the feeling might be that they can exact revenge against opposition who are vulnerable coming into this game and there could be value getting with the visitors here.
Goals Under/Over
It’s hardly a surprise that the bookies are expecting goals to be scored in this Clasico. After all, we recently saw a 2-2 draw played out in the Copa del Rey and it’s easy to see the net bulging multiple times at the Nou Camp. The sportsbooks suggest there’s around a 75% chance that three or more goals will be scored, with both teams likely to be going for the win for different reasons.
If you are placing an accumulator or Bet Builder, then Over 2.5 Goals could be a decent pick. For single backers, perhaps Over 3.5 Goals could even be worth chancing. After all, the previous three encounters between the rivals have yielded at least four goals each time. There was a 4-0 Barcelona win a the Santiago Bernabeu towards the end of October before that crazy 5-2 Super Cup win for the Catalan side in January.
BTTS
The BTTS Yes odds are trading at a similarly short price to Over 2.5 Goals and we can see this comfortably happening. Barcelona have scored 91 times and it’s hard to see how they can be stopped. They scored three times in each game against Inter despite exiting the Champions League and they have scored a sum total of twelve goals against Real over the course of three different games this term.
At home, Hansi Flick’s side have scored forty-six times and this is a team who are dripping with attacking talent. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are deadly and we might see Robert Lewandowski return to the starting line-up after missing the lion’s share of those games against Inter. The Pole will be determined to now help his team get over the line.
Real Madrid will gain nothing from adopting a defensive-minded approach. The title is gone if they fail to claim a victory and have to do their utmost to find a way of scoring goals. However, Los Merengues have drawn a couple of blanks on the road this term. These shortcomings came in the Champions League when failing to fire away to Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.
First Goalscorer
There’s an intriguing race to win the Spanish La Liga Golden Boot right now. Robert Lewandowski is a goal ahead of Kylian Mbappe and the pair have four games remaining in order to stake their claim to the award. The former was denied the chance to play an active part in the recent Champions League double header against Inter although he did come on as a late sub in the second leg and could well be involved here.
Lewandowski has scored twenty-five goals this term, with the forward notching forty-two goals in all competitions. It’s incredible for a thirty-six-year-old, although it might be that Ferran Torres starts this game and is then replaced at a later stage. Perhaps the scoring duties will fall to the remarkable Raphinha who scored what looked to be a winner at the San Siro and clearly has a deadly shot.
Kylian Mbappe has scored twenty-four goals this season and he’s recently been back on the scoresheet. The Frenchman bagged against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, with two goals helping his team to claim a victory against Celta Vigo.