Real Madrid vs Barcelona Predictions

• Barcelona scored eight goals while winning last season’s two La Liga El Clasicos
• Barca have won seven of their last nine games
• Xabi Alonso has won 15 and lost just two of his 18 games as Real Madrid manager

El Clasico could go Barca’s way

Germany’s top two got the chance to showcase their talents in last week’s Klassiker and Sunday will give the biggest teams in Spain – and possibly the world – an opportunity to light up Europe as Real Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Bernabeu for the season’s first El Clasico. 

With Madrid leading the way in La Liga but Barca only two points behind their rivals, Sunday’s showdown promises to be a thriller and it may just be one the visitors can edge. 

Real are favourites at a shade of odds-against and there are a couple of reasons why. They have won all five of their home matches under Xabi Alonso, so a Bernabeu bonus is active, while their rivals are in the midst of an injury crisis. 

Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Joan Garcia and Dani Olmo are Barca’s most significant absentees, although the bookies seem to be underestimating the immense depth at Hansi Flick’s disposal. 

They coped just fine without those players when routing Olympiakos 6-1 in the week racking up 27 shots against Girona on Saturday and while Real Madrid will pose a much sterner test than La Liga’s basement boys, Barca can bank on a stunning head-to-head record. 

Visitors to make light of injury crisis

Fick’s side scored eight goals while winning both league Clasicos last term and also routed Real 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final. They also landed 3-2 victory in extra-time of the Copa Del Rey final and that should give them an added boost ahead of Sunday’s capital excursion. 

Madrid may be top of La Liga but their recent results suggest Barca are far too big a price. They only secured three points against Getafe after their hosts were reduced to ten men last Sunday, suggesting they are still working things out under Alonso, and the big worry will be their woeful performance against Atletico. 

Los Blancos collapsed in the Madrid derby, being thrashed 5-2, and there is every chance they fall apart in another mammoth clash on Sunday, with Barca still posing plenty of threat through Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford and Pedri.