Clásico Preview: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
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With the La Liga title race entering the home straight, Real Madrid prepare to host Barcelona in a season-defining Clásico at the Bernabéu this Sunday.
The Clásico is a fixture that comes soaked in history and Barcelona will go into the match four points behind Madrid in the title race.
The reigning champions arrive in the Spanish capital on what is, by their enormously high standards, an extremely poor run of form away from the Camp Nou.
Successive away defeats to Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid has seen the Blaugrana fall down to third in the league standings.
Madrid meanwhile, are unbeaten in the 31 matches since they were beaten by Gerardo Martino's men in October's meeting at the Camp Nou, as the hosts ran out 2-1 winners.
Given the two sides' recent runs it hard to look past a home win and the price on Madrid will attract plenty of attention.
Barcelona, though, have scored in each of the last 15 Clásicos and it is almost impossible to back against them finding the back of the net.
Bet365 make the home side strong 6/5 favourites, while Coral price a home win for Madrid at 5/4.
That said, no matter what the result Sunday afternoon promises to be a very entertaining one.
Possible starting lineups:
Real Madrid: Diego López; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Raphaël Varane, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Luka Modrić; Gareth Bale, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo; Karim Benzema
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Xavi; Alexis Sánchez, Lionel Messi, Neymar
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
The Clásico is a fixture that comes soaked in history and Barcelona will go into the match four points behind Madrid in the title race.
The reigning champions arrive in the Spanish capital on what is, by their enormously high standards, an extremely poor run of form away from the Camp Nou.
Successive away defeats to Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid has seen the Blaugrana fall down to third in the league standings.
Madrid meanwhile, are unbeaten in the 31 matches since they were beaten by Gerardo Martino's men in October's meeting at the Camp Nou, as the hosts ran out 2-1 winners.
Given the two sides' recent runs it hard to look past a home win and the price on Madrid will attract plenty of attention.
Barcelona, though, have scored in each of the last 15 Clásicos and it is almost impossible to back against them finding the back of the net.
Bet365 make the home side strong 6/5 favourites, while Coral price a home win for Madrid at 5/4.
That said, no matter what the result Sunday afternoon promises to be a very entertaining one.
Possible starting lineups:
Real Madrid: Diego López; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Raphaël Varane, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Luka Modrić; Gareth Bale, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo; Karim Benzema
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Xavi; Alexis Sánchez, Lionel Messi, Neymar
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
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