Real Madrid v Barcelona Betting Tip BTTS and Over 2.5 goals – 27 February 2019

Real Madrid v Barcelona
Wednesday 27th February 2000rs 
Football – Spain – Copa Del Rey
Pick Both teams to score and Over 2.5 goals  
Bookmaker Marathon Bet
Odds: 71/100 (odds taken 21.15 GMT, Tuesday 26^th February)

There was nothing to split Real Madrid and Barcelona when the sides met in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey semi-final but there has to be a winner one way or another on Wednesday.

Copa Del Rey Betting at Marathon Bet

Real Madrid Preview

It was a really positive performance from Real at the Nou Camp, especially as they were thumped 5-1 earlier in the season at the same venue. Santiago Solari has certainly been able to stabilise matters on the field and whilst there have been some disappointments along the way, there is optimism that the season can be salvaged with the acquisition of a trophy or two. The current European champions look well on their way to the quarter final of the Champions League and will be looking to win it for a fourth straight year, whilst they appear to be in pole position to reach the final of this competition, too. Somewhat surprisingly, the Copa Del Rey has not been kind to Real with the last time they lifted the trophy back in 2014. Incredibly, that’s just one of two domestic cup successes they have had in the past 24 seasons. For a club steeped in their history, it’s a record they will want to improve on and having negotiated the first leg away from home well enough, there’s no doubting have a great opportunity to reach the final.

Barcelona Preview

Unlike their arch rivals and opponents on Wednesday, the Copa Del Rey has been virtually owned by Barcelona in recent times. The Catalans have won it for four successive seasons and are the record winners of it, currently sitting at 30. Ernesto Valverde knows the importance the club place on it so he will be looking to get a big performance from his players in an attempt to wrestle the advantage back from Real on Wednesday. Barcelona needing a result in the second leg of ties in this year’s competition is nothing unusual, however, having lost the first leg against both Levante and Sevilla in the previous two rounds. The only difference, and it may well be key, is that the second of both those ties was at home. This time, Barca know they will have to get a result on the road. It’s certainly not beyond them of course, considering their record at the Bernabeu and also their excellent come-from-behind 4-2 win away to Sevilla at the weekend.

Real Madrid v Barcelona Betting Preview

These clubs are already very well known to each other, but they’ll have two more chances to get acquainted with Wednesday’s match being the first of a double header, when they do it all over again in La Liga on Saturday at the same venue. That may well impact upon the two coaches decision as to who starts this game but there’s no doubting that Solari and Valverde will be sending their teams out to go for the win and take a big step towards securing a piece of silverware for their respective clubs.

I alluded to Barcelona’s recent good record away to Real Madrid, and that’s illustrated by them winning on three of their last four visits. Central to all of those wins is Lionel Messi who will be fully fit having only been a sub for the first leg. He was at his scintillating best when scoring a hat-trick at the weekend. I expect two very strong teams to line-up for this and it to be another closely fought game. 13 of the past 18 meetings between Real and Barca have seen both teams scoring and at least three goals scored, and I make that another confidence selection.