Barcelona v Real Madrid Betting Preview, 2016-04-02

Messi to be star of the show at Nou Camp

International Football Tips

Saturday 2nd April 2016 Kickoff: 1930hrs
Barcelona v Real Madrid
Football – Primera Division – Spain

The most anticipated domestic game of the European football calendar has its second airing of the 2015/16 season as the two Spanish giants clash at the Nou Camp. Barcelona – current Spanish and European champions – were emphatic 4-0 winners at the Santiago Bernabeu back in November and they have not looked back ever since. With eight games left in the Primera Division, Barca are nine points clear of second-placed Atletico and a further point ahead of their arch rivals whom they entertain on Saturday evening. Real know that anything less than three points and their hopes of winning the league title are over for yet another season.

Having dominated all before them last term in what was Luis Enrique’s first season in charge of the club, Barcelona could well be on for another memorable campaign this time around. Not only are they well clear in La Liga but they have also reached the final of the Copa Del Rey where they will take on Sevilla towards the end of May. Add to that the fact that they also face Atletico in the quarter-finals of the Champions and League and you can begin to see something very special happening once again. To win all three major trophies once is a huge achievement, but to do it twice is simply stunning and would give them claims of going down as the very best club team in history. There’s a long way to go before that, however, and games against Real Madrid are always a case for complete concentration. Before the international break the league leaders were given a timely reminder that they must remain focussed as they surrendered a two goals lead to only take a point away to Villareal. It brought an end to a 12 game winning run in the league which illustrates how consistent and superior they have been this season.

The appointment of Rafael Benitez never worked out for Real Madrid with the head coach barely lasting six months in the hot seat. The demolishing at home to Barca was the catalyst of what was to come for Benitez who was sacked at the turn of the year. His replacement, Zinedine Zidane, his replacement, is no stranger to El Clasico’s having been involved in many during his time as a player for Real, but this will be something different for the French genius. His tenure at the Bernabeu has been somewhat mixed with some supreme performances at home but an inability to transfer that over to their away form has hindered their progress in the league. The 4-0 win at home to Sevilla last time out was arguably the best display since Zidane took over and the challenge is to build on that as they make the daunting trip to the home of the league leaders and champions. Both the coaching staff and the players know that they are under pressure to get a result considering their current league position and the fact that they are yet to win in any of the big encounters against either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid this term.

Although Barca’s winning league run came to an end a fortnight ago, they are still in the midst of a 12 match winning run at home in all competitions – but that only tells half the story. Not only are they winning games, they are demolishing opposition teams and playing some of the best football you are likely to see. Their last dozen home games have yielded 50 goals including hitting six against Athletic Bilbao, Celta Vigo and Getafe, and eight against a hapless Valencia team in the Spanish Cup. It’s been a noticeable change in their game this season that even when the game is won, Barcelona have been ruthless in going after goals. They can also grind victories out as well, though, as evidenced by the 2-1 victory against Atletico towards the end of January. All considered, there are very few weaknesses in this Barcelona team.

Sources close to the club have intimated that this season is already considered something of a write-off for Real Madrid and there are already moves in place to plan for next season. There is already plenty of speculation that the likes of Isco and James Rodriguez will be looking for new clubs having failed to nail down a permanent position in the team and there are no guarantees over Zidane’s long term future. In the immediate future, however, Real are still engaged in the Champions League which appears to be their only realistic chance of winning a trophy this term, and they have been drawn against Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals which gives them an excellent chance of getting to the last four. Having watched them a fair bit this season, they will have to improve dramatically to trouble Barcelona or Bayern over two legs, though.

Barcelona v Real Madrid Betting Tips

All the attention leading up to this game has been about the two front threes – MSN versus BBC. No, it’s not a battle of two huge media outlets, but the brilliance of Messi, Suarez and Neymar against the formidableness of Benzema, Bale and Cristiano. Unfortunately for Real, the match-up between those six players is probably much closer than the actual current standard of both teams. Barcelona are on a different level to their rivals just now as illustrated by a 39 match unbeaten run stretching back six months. Their three star players take all the headlines, as you would expect, but they are ably supported by world class talents like Sergi Busquets, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta. Other than fleeting glimpses, Real have not been able to demonstrate that as a team.

This game comes very close to both side’s Champions League commitments next midweek but that is unlikely to make a difference considering the rivalry between these two. The El Clasico is breakneck speed throughout and I think we can expect to see plenty of action from the outset. Ordinarily, a team in Real’s position would try to frustrate their opponents but they are simply unable to do that so will do what they are best at and try to attack and score goals. That will be perfect for this Barcelona team and they could have a field day. I have alluded to how free-scoring they have been at home this season and I see this being no different. The ruthless streak that they have developed under Luis Enrique will – in my opinion – see the champions romp to another victory. Lionel Messi missed out on most of the fun back in November as he only came off the bench in the second half and with the Argentinean only one goal away from a career 500, I am backing the little maestro to be the star man on Saturday. 21 of his 499 goals have come against Real and I can see him not only reaching the total, but surpassing it. He is a massive 4/1 to score two or more goals which appears to be massive value.

Messi to score 2+ goals 4/1 @ Coral