Real Madrid Vs Barcelona
Real Madrid Vs Barcelona Sunday 20 March, 2022 – 20:00 (GMT)
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 17 March 2022)
Preview: The final El Clasico of 2021/22 has the ingredients for a goal-laden renewal inside the Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid remain unbeaten in La Liga all season but will do well to limit a Barcelona enjoying some rich vein of scoring form.
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Real Madrid – Ancelotti sweating on Benzema availability?
Los Blancos continued their procession towards their 35th Spanish league title with a fourth consecutive league victory – and fifth in all competitions having produced a rousing comeback at home to PSG in the Champions League last week, coming from 2-0 down on aggregate to win 3-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate – last Monday night in Mallorca. Thus extending their advantage at the summit to 10 points.
The 3-0 win at the Visit Mallorca Estadi means Real have amassed 11 goals for the loss of one across their current winning streak. It was also a fifth La Liga clean sheet in six. They’re a well-oiled machine in all departments under Carlo Ancelotti, whose only concern ahead of the final El Clasico of 2021/22 is an injury picked up by Karim Benzema last time. The Frenchman, with 8 goals in 5 games, would be a big miss.
Key Stat: Real Madrid are among two teams (the other being Sevilla) in La Liga yet to lose a home fixture this term, winning 10 of 14 La Liga encounters at the Santiago Bernabeu. Nine of these games saw them score at least twice, also keeping a clean sheet 50% of the time as hosts.
Barcelona – Momentum building under Xavi’s influence?
Whatever their arch rivals can do, they can do better? Barca boast identical form to that of Real Madrid having also reeled off four La Liga victories on the bounce. Last week’s 4-0 rout of Osasuna at the Camp Nou was a sixth consecutive league game netting two or more, resulting in five wins and one draw (2-2 away to Espanyol in the Barcelona derby) and the fourth occasion scoring four among these half-dozen fixtures.
Put simply, Barcelona are looking back to their best under Xavi Hernandez whose possession-based style is already reaping results. That is now 12 La Liga games without defeat (W8 D4) since losing 1-0 at home to Real Betis in early December. They have scored in all nine away outings thus far, so will take some nullifying in Madrid. Although a short turnaround from Thursday’s Europa League exertions is concerning.
Key Stat: Since installing Xavi as Barcelona manager in November, the Catalans have earned 19 points from nine away La Liga games (W5 D4). They are yet to fire a blank away from home, averaging 1.88 goals per away league game.
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Real Madrid Vs Barcelona Betting Advice
It’s the big one. I mean, that is what everyone says before any historically important fixture, right? In reality, Sunday’s meeting in Madrid is arguably the least compelling encounter between the clubs in recent memory. Real Madrid are coasting towards another league title while Barcelona are firmly on course to salvage a once drastically poor campaign by finishing in the top four.
Real Madrid Vs Barcelona – Key Facts:
- January’s extra-time victory in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals resulted in a sixth successive El Clasico without defeat for Real Madrid, Los Blancos winning each of the previous four meetings in La Liga since a 0-0 draw in Barcelona in December 2019.
- The last four head-to-heads all produced three or more goals. There have been Over 2.5 Goals in four of Real Madrid’s last five La Liga home matches and in each of Barcelona’s past three away from home.
- Barcelona have scored exactly four goals in four of their past six La Liga games. However, only Real Sociedad have scored against Real Madrid across the latter’s last six league encounters.
The consequence of defeat on Sunday wouldn’t be severe for either. Yet the hope is this will allow both teams to play with freedom, which could lead to another enjoyable contest. The past four El Clasicos, including January’s Super Cup duel, have seen both teams score and at least three match goals. With the goalscoring form Barca are in and Real not wanting to relinquish their unbeaten home record, that bet once again appeals.
Best Betting Odds – Real Madrid Vs Barcelona
Real Madrid – 11/10 (WilliamHill)
Draw – 11/4 (Bet365)
Barcelona – 12/5 (Coral)
