La Liga In Focus – Real Madrid vs Barcelona Preview

When? Saturday 23^rd December, 12:00 (UK)

Where? Santiago Bernabeu

What channel is it on? Sky Sports Football/Sky Sports Mix/Sky One

Are tickets still available?

Real Madrid - https://www.realmadrid.com/en/tickets/real-madrid-barcelona-2017-12-23

Barcelona - https://www.ticketbis.net/real-madrid-v-barcelona-tickets/ev356768

Where can I stream the match? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Last five meetings: Real Madrid W3, Barcelona W1, D1
La Liga meetings: Real Madrid W72 Barcelona W69, D33
All-time meetings: Real Madrid W95 Barcelona W91, D49

REAL MADRID

Predicted line-up: Navas; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo

Unavailable: Zidane (Injured)

Doubtful:

BARCELONA

Predicted line-up: Ter Stegen; Nelson Semedo, Pique, Vermaelen, Jordi Alba; Paulinho, Busquets, Rakitic; Messi, L. Suarez, Iniesta

Unavailable: Dembele (Injured), Umtiti (Injured), Paco Alcacer (Injured), Deulofeu (Injured)

Doubtful: Rafinha (Injured)

PREDICTION
Real Madrid may be fresh from success in the FIFA World Club Cup, but they are somewhat off the pace of arch rivals Barcelona in the race for this season’s La Liga. Barcelona are in ominous form and would love to kill off Los Blancos while on enemy territory. This is not a vintage Real team this season and with that in mind the Catalan giants could well be good value for an away win in Madrid.

MEMORABLE MEETING
The 2008-09 season saw Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in their pomp and there was no better example as they made a huge stride to winning the La Liga title that year with an emphatic 6-2 win at the Bernabeu. Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry would silence the home fans after both picking up a brace of goals that evening.