Real Madrid v Barcelona: Los Merengues can take giant step towards La Liga title

Real Madrid v Barcelona
Sunday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 1 and Betfair Live Video

Real Madrid

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. He may no longer be the omnipotent attacking force that dominated European football, but Cristiano Ronaldo 2.0 showed in midweek that he remains more than capable of winning matches at the highest level, plundering three more Champions League goals to help Real Madrid past Bayern Munich.

It was not the most fluent display from Los Merengues, but this side has a remarkable knack for rolling with the punches and grinding out a result. The habit has served them all season and now, against their most bitter rivals, they have an opportunity to take a giant step towards the Spanish title. Victory here would extend their lead at the summit to six points - and they still have a game in hand.

Gareth Bale has returned to training after injury and could make the squad, although Isco's fine recent form should mean he keeps his place in the starting XI. Raphael Varane is unlikely to be back, so Nacho is expected to continue in defence.

Barcelona

They needed another miracle, but it wasn't meant to be. There was to be no comeback, no goals even. The chances came and went for Barcelona, Juventus riding their luck at times but undoubtedly the better side over two legs of a chastening Champions League quarter-final.

The Catalans have a Copa del Rey final to come, but this is starting to look like a wasted season, a feeling only strengthened by the fact that Luis Enrique is leaving in the summer. They will need to rebuild, both in the dugout and in the transfer market, with question marks over a number of players. If it's not a crisis, it's fairly close to one.

All is not yet lost in the league, of course, but anything less than a victory on Sunday would leave them clutching at straws. Unfortunately they must do without one of their key men: Neymar is still banned, despite the club's best attempts to get around the ruling. With Arda Turan still absent, that should mean another start for Paco Alcácer.

Match Odds

Zinedine Zidane has yet to taste defeat in two Clásicos as Madrid manager and it's little surprise to see the home side as 2.14 favourites, with Barcelona available at a bumper 3.35.

With both sides boasting plenty of firepower and hampered by slightly unreliable defences, the key to the match could be the midfield battle, and it's here that Real have the biggest edge. Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have been in excellent form all campaign and could dominate against an out-of-sorts Barça engine room.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

18 of the last 10 Clásicos (all competitions) have produced three goals or more, making the overs the natural pick here. But it's as short as 1.42, with both teams to score an almost identical price. Both are likely to pay out, but you're not going to be getting much bang for your buck.

Over 3.5 goals is much more attractive at
2.02. All of the last three meetings at the Bernabéu have gone over that mark and with Barcelona obliged to attack there are likely to be plenty of chances at both ends of the pitch. It might even be worth considering Both Teams to Score in Both Halves at 6.00.

Double Chance and Both Teams to Score

Perhaps the best way to back goals while leaning towards the Madrid win is dipping into the Sportsbook's Double Chance and Both Teams to Score market. The 'Home or Draw and Yes' selection covers a wide range of scorelines (1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 2-2, 3-2 etc) and looks very backable at 17/20.

To Score

Ronaldo is evidently the go-to man from a Real Madrid point of view, having scored 16 Clásico goals in all competitions (only Alfredo Di Stefano and Lionel Messi have more) and five in his last two games. If 1.70 is too short for you, the 4.40 available on him scoring twice or more may be more appealing. He's done that on ten occasions for club and country this term.

Recommended Bet

Back Real Madrid/draw double chance and both teams to score at 17/20