El Clasico: Barcelona will pile pressure on Real Madrid and Zidane

El Clasico: Barcelona will pile pressure on Real Madrid and Zidane

Home advantage and a healthy suite of attacking options make Barcelona the bet in Spain's biggest games, says Dan Fitch, in a fixture you can watch on Betfair Live Video

Barcelona 2.14 v Real Madrid 3.6; The Draw 3.8
Saturday 24 October, 15:00
Live on LaLigaTV and Betfair Live Video

Barca return to winning ways at Camp Nou

Barcelona need their reliable home form to continue when they host El Clasico on Saturday afternoon.

Last weekend Barca lost their first La Liga game of the season, when they were defeated 1-0 at Getafe. The away loss was a familiar story for Barcelona, following last season's poor form on the road. It also felt like a defeat that was a little unnecessary, as Ronald Koeman left out the in-form Philippe Coutinho and Ansu Fati, in order for them to be fresh for the Champions League match against Ferencvaros and this weekend's crunch match with Real Madrid.

It would have perhaps made more sense for Koeman to rest players against Ferencvaros at home. As it was, Coutinho and Fati were both very good as they were restored to the side. Both players scored, with Coutinho working extremely hard in his central role behind Lionel Messi.

Francisco Trincao made his first start on the right of Barca's attack and the Portuguese winger did much to enhance his reputation. He could be a better option there than Antoine Griezmann, who Koeman, like those before him, is struggling to find a suitable role for. Jordi Alba is likely to miss the game with injury, so Sergino Dest should continue at left-back.

Pressure piles on Zidane

It was only a few weeks ago that Zinedine Zidane guided Real Madrid to the title, but now he's under pressure again, after two disastrous results in the past week.

Last weekend Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 home loss to promoted Cadiz. Zidane had the opportunity for some quick redemption in the Champions League on Wednesday, only for Real to once again lose at home, this time to a Shakhtar Donetsk side that have been decimated by positive Covid-19 tests.

Shakhtar won 3-2 and could have easily scored more. The result sees Madrid go into this crucial fixture with their confidence at a low point and speculation that Zidane could be replaced, with Mauricio Pochettino and the Castilla manager and Real legend Raul, both available options.

Sergio Ramos had to go off injured against Cadiz, but is back in training and could return to the starting lineup against Barcelona. On the evidence of the display against Shakhtar, the presence of Ramos is vital to Madrid's chances of picking up a positive result.

Barca will win El Clasico in game of goals

Barcelona are the 2.14 favourites, with a Real Madrid win at 3.6 and the draw at 3.8.

At this moment, that's a good price for Barcelona. Real Madrid are looking defensively unstable and though that description could also be applied to Barca, the hosts are likely to win an attacking shootout. They have far more invention within their ranks than Madrid, who are badly missing the perpetually injured Eden Hazard.

Barcelona have now conceded in three straight games, with even Ferencvaros giving them defensive problems in a 5-1 defeat. If you want to boost the price of a Barcelona victory, adding both teams to score to the equation, sees the odds improved to 3.8.

You're the one for me Fati

There are some good value choices in the Anytime scorer market. Lionel Messi is rarely as big as 2.1 to find the net, while Karim Benzema leads the betting for Real Madrid at 2.9.

Yet the player whose price most appeals is Fati at 3.3. His goal against Ferencvaros was his fourth in as many starts this season and Koeman took him off early to ensure that he will be fresh for El Clasico.