The season`s final El Clasico sees Barcelona hosting Real Madrid on Sunday in a pivotal match for the La Liga title race. Barcelona holds a four-point advantage at the top with only four games remaining, putting them in a strong position. Considering Hansi Flick`s team has already defeated their rivals three times this season, Barcelona appears to be the favorite for Sunday`s encounter. However, their recent 7-6 aggregate defeat to Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semifinals raises questions about their current form and resilience.
The narrow gap between the top two teams leaves room for Real Madrid to potentially secure a victory on Sunday, which would intensify the title race in the final matches. This game is crucial for `Los Blancos,` as winning La Liga could salvage their season and prevent them from finishing without a major trophy, particularly significant as it`s widely speculated to be Carlo Ancelotti`s last season managing the team.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this significant El Clasico encounter.
How to Watch & Odds
- Location: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys — Barcelona, Spain
- TV: ESPN | Live stream: Fubo
- Odds: Barcelona -110; Draw +300; Real Madrid +240
Last Meeting
These two rivals last met just two weeks ago in the Copa del Rey final in Seville, a dramatic match Barcelona won 3-2. Pedri opened the scoring for Barcelona, but second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni put Real Madrid ahead by the 77th minute. However, Ferran Torres equalized just seven minutes later, sending the game to extra time. Jules Kounde scored the winning goal with only four minutes left in extra time. The match ended controversially with several Real Madrid players disagreeing with referee decisions, leading to red cards for Jude Bellingham, Lucas Vazquez, and Antonio Rudiger. Rudiger subsequently received a six-match ban for throwing an object at the referee and has already served two matches of that suspension.
Barcelona`s Perspective
Following their disappointing Champions League exit, a key question is Barcelona`s readiness for another major match. Coach Hansi Flick stated in his Saturday press conference that the team has successfully shifted focus to the upcoming task. He mentioned, “After the defeat in Milan, everyone knows it`s not easy… but we`re doing great. We spoke about that and what we want to do in the next two weeks. We have four matches to go. Of course, the Clasico is tomorrow and it is very important to show again how good we can play.”
Flick emphasized the need to perform at the highest level, be active, intense, and dominant, acknowledging Real Madrid`s strength but highlighting the home advantage. He added, “I don`t care about the table at the moment. We have to win. We want to win. This is our mentality, our attitude.” Barcelona will still have injury concerns. While Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde might be available, Flick indicated they may not be ready to start, praising Ferran Torres and Gerard Martin`s recent performances. He noted the need to manage player fitness with three league matches remaining after the Clasico.
Real Madrid`s Perspective
Real Madrid continues to face speculation regarding Carlo Ancelotti`s future, with reports suggesting he might leave for the Brazil national team. Ancelotti maintained that this uncertainty hasn`t affected the team`s preparation for El Clasico. He commented, “It`s not that complicated to prepare for these matches because there`s no need to prepare the players. You have to give them the clearest possible ideas about how they should play the match. What`s happening around us hasn`t affected us at all this week. We`re fine and very confident. No problems.”
Ancelotti also took the opportunity to praise Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid player and highly-rated coach, widely expected to be a potential successor. “I`ve read he`s leaving Leverkusen, where he`s done a fantastic job,” Ancelotti said. “All doors are open to him, because he`s shown himself to be one of the best coaches in the world.”
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Gerard Martin, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Lucas Vazquez, Aurelien Tchouameni, Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia, Dani Ceballos, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal of Barcelona is often highlighted as a player to watch, impressively becoming a key figure for the team at just 17 years old. Even with Robert Lewandowski potentially sidelined, Yamal has demonstrated his ability to lead the attack, both creating chances and scoring goals. This season, he boasts 15 goals and 20 assists, including two of each in the three previous Clasicos. Yamal`s contribution is especially vital given Barcelona`s defensive vulnerabilities, as they frequently rely on their attacking strength to outscore opponents. They have netted 12 goals against Real Madrid`s four this season.
Storyline to Watch: Can Barcelona Hold Their Lead?
Can Barcelona maintain their position at the top? Their talent is evident, as is their strong record against Real Madrid this season. The impact of their Champions League exit is a major unknown. While Barcelona`s defensive weaknesses have been apparent all season, Inter Milan was perhaps the first team to truly exploit them effectively. This situation theoretically favors Real Madrid, who possess potent attackers like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, capable of challenging a vulnerable backline. However, Real Madrid has shown inconsistency and a lack of clinical finishing (`limited end product`) this season despite their star power. The final Clasico presents an opportunity for either side to make a definitive statement, but it`s also possible that neither team has enough energy left to truly dominate.
Prediction
While a Real Madrid victory is not out of the question, especially given the stakes, both teams share defensive concerns. Real Madrid will likely field Aurelien Tchouameni as a makeshift center-back alongside the relatively inexperienced Raul Ascensio due to Antonio Rudiger`s suspension, potentially complicating their defense. Even if defensive issues are balanced, Barcelona holds an edge in attack. Despite Real Madrid`s individual quality, they haven`t consistently clicked offensively this season. Barcelona, conversely, has managed to score reliably even without Robert Lewandowski (12 goals in five recent games). If they can bring their best performance, they should be able to leverage their attacking strengths. Prediction: Barcelona 3, Real Madrid 1
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Dominic Ashworth