Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Real Madrid will bid to move 11 points clear of Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table when they welcome their bitter rivals to the Bernabeu for the latest installment of El Clasico.
Both teams were in Champions League quarter-final action earlier this week, with Real Madrid beating Manchester City to reach the last four of the competition, but Barcelona falling to Paris Saint-Germain after a tough second leg at home.
Match preview
Real Madrid vs Barcelona-Real Madrid are in for a La Liga and Champions League double this season and a win over Barcelona on Sunday night would go a long way to securing the title in Spain’s top flight.
Indeed, a home success in El Clasico would see Carlo Ancelotti’s side lead by 11 points with six football games remaining, and it would be hard to imagine a change from that position, but a loss to Los Blancos would cut the gap to five points. , and it will be too much in the title race.
Real Madrid have been comfortably the best team in Spain’s top flight this season, amassing a record 78 points from 31 matches with 24 wins, six draws and one defeat, leaving them eight points clear of second-placed Barcelona, while they are top scorers (67) and top Defensive Record (20) (Real Madrid vs Barcelona).
Ancelotti’s side made it four consecutive successes in Spain’s top flight, beating Mallorca 1-0 in the league last weekend before beating Man City in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Real Madrid lost a lot of possession and chances, but they drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium to make it 4-4 on aggregate, requiring penalties to decide the contest and set up the Spanish giants to win the shootout. In the semi-finals with Bayern Munich.
Los Blancos will bid for a league double against Barcelona this season, having recorded a 2-1 win when the two sides locked horns for the reverse fixture in October.
Barcelona had a different experience in Europe earlier this week, losing 4-1 to PSG in the second leg of their quarter-final to exit the competition 6-4 on aggregate.
Xavi’s side led 3-2 after the first leg in Paris and 4-2 on aggregate when Rafinha scored in the 12th minute of Tuesday’s clash, but Ronald Araujo’s red card in the 29th minute changed the match and the French champions advanced. Scoring four times without reply to secure their place in the semi-finals (Real Madrid vs Barcelona).
Barcelona’s sole focus will now be on the league and it’s a must win for the Catalan side if they are to have any chance of retaining the La Liga title this season.
The reigning champions are unbeaten in the league since the end of January, winning eight times since then, including each of their last four against Mallorca, Atlético Madrid, Las Palmas and Cadiz.
Despite recent speculation, Xavi still plans to step down as head coach this summer, so there will be huge changes ahead of next season, and it’s also shaping up to be an interesting transfer window for the club.
Barcelona have the second-best away record in La Liga this season, picking up 33 points from 15 matches, going unbeaten in the process, but they head to Real Madrid who are also unbeaten at the Bernabeu in Spain’s top flight. Season.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona-Team News
Real Madrid are without the services of Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba due to knee injuries, but the team has received a double fitness boost for the competition.
Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior were both forced out with injury problems against Man City on Wednesday, but the pair are available to feature from the first whistle on Sunday night.
Aurelien Choumeni returns from a European suspension and could feature in the middle of defense alongside Antonio Rudiger, (Real Madrid vs Barcelona) while Jude Bellingham, who netted twice in the opposite league earlier this season, is set to operate behind the front two of Vinicius and Rodrigo.
Luka Modric is an option to freshen up the midfield, but Eduardo Camavinga will have to keep his place in the middle alongside Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde.
For Barcelona, Sergi Roberto and Andreas Christensen will both return to the team after missing the PSG contest due to suspension.
Gavi and Alejandro Balde are still out with long-term knee injuries, but the Catalan side are otherwise in strong shape, with Araujo also available, as his ban only relates to European matches.
Christensen is expected to come into midfield on Sunday, which could see Pedri feature further forward alongside Rafinha and Robert Lewandowski.
Lamine Yamal was replaced early on against PSG in response to Araujo’s red card and the Spain international could now be on the bench for the first whistle in El Clasico.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona-Real Madrid Probable Starting Lineup:
Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Choumeni, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Cruz; Bellingham; Vinicius, Rodrigo
Real Madrid vs Barcelona-Barcelona’s probable starting lineup:
ter stagen; Kaunde, Araujo, Cuberci, Cancelo; Gundogan, Christensen, FD Jung; Pedri, Lewandowski, Rafinha
We say: Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona
Real Madrid vs Barcelona-These two teams haven’t actually had a league draw since December 2019, but we’re backing a stalemate this weekend. Both sides have been involved in emotional European affairs during the week, and while Real Madrid didn’t need a win, we believe the points can be shared at the Bernabeu.