Real Madrid vs. Barcelona Predictions: Back Aubameyang to continue red-hot form
It may not have quite the same sparkle as recent years given the gulf in points between the rivals in the La Liga table but El Clasico is unquestionably always a stand-out fixture in the fooball calander; bristling with plenty of talking points, drama, and stone cold pride.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid are at home on Sunday as they look to take a step closer to regaining the title, although they face a real challenge against a revitalised Barcelona who are unbeaten in the league in 2022 (8pm, Premier Sports 1/ LaLigaTV).
Real Madrid vs Barcelona Tips
La Liga leaders Real Madrid are 10 points clear of Sevilla with 10 games left to play and 15 points better off than Barcelona down in third. As a result they are as short as 1/100 to win the title, with Barcelona out at 45/1.
Since returning for a second spell last summer, manager Carlo Ancelotti has won 20 of his 28 league games, losing just twice. Los Blancos have won each of the last five clashes against Barcelona and head into the latest edition of El Clasico on the back of four straight league wins.
However, Barcelona are a different team to the one that stuttered and stumbled their way through the opening few months of the season under Ronald Koeman. Gone is the toxic environment, lack of confidence, and inconsistency, with new boss Xavi rejuvenating the club who are currently enjoying an 11 game unbeaten run in all competitions, including six wins from their last seven.
Bar an unlikely collapse, the title is heading to the Bernabeu, however 9/4-priced Barcelona can at least restore some El Clasico pride by coming away with the three points on Sunday. Real Madrid are the bookies' favourites at 29/25 to complete the league-double over their rivals, whereas a draw can be backed at 11/4.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's February switch from Arsenal to Barcelona has worked wonders. The striker has been rampant for his new employers, hammering in seven goals in his last seven games, including a hat-trick against Valencia and the deciding goal in the mid-week 2-1 Europa League victory away to Galatasaray.
The 32-year-old has five goals in six La Liga games, in the process accumulating 14 shots, eight of which have been on target. He’s found the back of the net in each of his last two games and will certainly fancy his chances of firing at the Bernabeu. He’s a 2/1 shot to do just that, while he’s available at 6/1 to open the scoring, and for the really-optimistic he's 55/1 to bag a hat-trick for the second time in the last four weeks.
El Clasico is an absolute card fest. Crunching challenges, devious sportsmanship, back-chat, laughable diving, pure spite, and ferocious anger combine to make this an extremely card-happy fixture.
This is more than illustrated in the last 12 clashes between the clubs which have produced an eye-popping 63 cards - including three reds - at an average of 5.25 cards per game.
The referee is Juan Martinez Munuera who has dished out 48 yellows and a hefty five reds in just 11 La Liga games so far this season. The man in the middle will be an extremely busy bloke on Sunday at the Bernabeu and we’ve picked out two players who could well be on the receiving end of his wafted arm.
We’ll start with Real Madrid’s defensive midfielder, Casemiro, who has received a whopping 16 yellow cards already this season in all competitions, including eight in his last 16 games and three in the last six. In 25 La Liga games this term he’s committed 45 fouls and collected nine yellows.
The Brazilian hasn’t exactly been shy in this particular fixture either; acquiring eight yellows and a red; including a yellow in Real Madrid’s 3-2 Super Cup win two months ago a sending off at the Bernabeu in last season’s tussle.
Now onto Jordi Alba who has nine yellows this season, and five in his last 11 appearances. Like Casemiro, the Barcelona left-back has frequently been booked in El Clasico matches; picking up six yellows, including three in his last five appearances against Real Madrid.
Additionally, you can find Casemiro at 22/1 to be sent off, with Alba out at 28/1 to be shown his marching orders (both with bet365).
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