Real Madrid vs Barcelona Preview: Team News & Prediction
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El Clasico is arguably the biggest game in club football and this one also has a major bearing on the Spanish title race as Real Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Bernabeu.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / Disney+ / US – ESPN+
Real Madrid preview: Finding fluency
Following the appointment of Xabi Alonso over the summer, Real Madrid have been their classical selves of being effective without playing too well, but Los Blancos and the manager will be searching for more than that as the season goes on.
That said, winning tends to be all that matters at Madrid and that continued in midweek as they defeated Juventus by a goal to nil in the UEFA Champions League, courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s first goal of the season, following in late on.
Barcelona preview: Regularly exposed
Barcelona come into this one on the back of a 6-1 demolition of Greek champions Olympiacos at Estadi Olympic Lluis Companys in the UEFA Champions League the other day, taking advantage of Jose Luis Mendilibar’s ten men Greeks.
The Blaugrana can go to the top-of-the-table this weekend with a win after a last gasp defeat of struggling Catalan rivals Girona last weekend, but they are struggling to find the same level of fluency last year, whilst also being exposed more regularly, too.
Real Madrid team news: Defensive injuries
Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold have returned to training and could be available for this one but both Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen are doubtful, whilst David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger remain confirmed absentees.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Courtois; Fede Valverde, Eder Militao, Carreras, Fran Garcia; Guler, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Unavailable: Alaba (Injured), Rudiger (Injured)
Questionable: Dean Huijsen (Injured), Raul Asencio (Injured), Dani Carvajal (Injured), Alexander-Arnold (Injured), Dani Ceballos (Injured)
Barcelona team news: Christensen now a doubt
Barcelona have a fresh injury concern for this one as Andreas Christensen is now a doubt due to illness. They have key absentees such as Joan Garcia and Robert Lewandowski.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Szczesny; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Alex Balde; Pedri, Marc Casado, De Jong; Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Rashford
Unavailable: Joan Garcia (Injured), Ter Stegen (Injured), Gavi (Injured), Dani Olmo (Injured), Lewandowski (Injured)
Questionable: Christensen (Illness), Raphinha (Injured)
Real Madrid vs Barcelona prediction
Real Madrid have almost played in the Carlo Ancelotti manner this season by making themselves very difficult to beat and pinching games via Kylian Mbappe and other stars like Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. They have had a lot more territorial and possession-based control, though. Barca are a team that will allow the hosts a lot more space to play into and that could cause Madrid to be a little more efficient and thrilling in the final third, with both teams scoring seeming a reasonably good bet, given the array of attacking talent that Barca have and the way in which they play, even with key injury concerns.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona tip: Both teams to score
