Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday, but there is no time for them to feel sorry for themselves. Their focus immediately turns back to the La Liga title race.
Barcelona can take a massive step towards the championship with a victory this weekend, while Real Madrid need a win to keep their hopes alive.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid best bets
- Draw – 29/20 with Spreadex
- Real Madrid to score first – 6/5 with Ladbrokes
- Robert Lewandowski to score any time – 5/6 with SBK
Barcelona vs Real Madrid odds
Find the latest match odds for Barcelona vs Real Madrid. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid predictions
Barcelona recently played their part in one of the most entertaining Champions League semi-finals of all time.
Needless to say, everyone associated with the Catalan club would have preferred a dull 1-0 aggregate victory over Inter to a thrilling 7-6 defeat over two legs.
Barcelona’s treble dreams are over following that remarkable 4-3 loss in the second leg at San Siro. Yet this Hansi Flick and his players need to dust themselves down quickly. This can still be a fantastic season for the Catalans.
The Copa del Rey is already in the bag. Barcelona won the final last month, beating Real Madrid 3-2 after extra time.
Back in January they claimed the Supercopa de Espana. Granted, that is the least significant of the four competitions they entered this season, but a piece of silverware can never be sniffed at.
Finally, Barcelona are strong favourites to win the La Liga title. Since 2019, they have only finished top of the table once. Making Barcelona Spanish champions again would be an excellent outcome for Flick in his first campaign at the helm.
Barcelona are not over the line yet, though. They lead Real Madrid by four points with four games remaining. Victory in this weekend’s Clasico would almost certainly seal the deal, but a defeat would reopen the door to their rivals.
Madrid will feel they can still do something this season. They have lost three times to Barcelona already, but it would all be worth it if they could somehow overtake Flick’s team in the closing stages of the campaign.
Carlo Ancelotti will leave the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu this summer no matter what happens over the next few weeks, but the experienced Italian would love to bid farewell to Spain as a La Liga champion again.
“I won’t say Sunday’s game will be decisive, but almost,” Ancelotti said last weekend. “If we win, we’re a point behind. The league would still be in Barcelona’s hands, but we’ll have more of a chance.”
They certainly would. Barcelona would get nervous if their lead was cut to one point and they also have a tougher run-in.
The Clasico always matters given the intensity of the rivalry between Barcelona and Madrid. Sunday’s edition is even more important – this is a match you do not want to miss.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid betting tips
Barcelona face Real Madrid in a massive match in the La Liga title race.
Draw
It is fair to say Barcelona have had Real Madrid’s number this season. In the first La Liga game between the pair, they thrashed their adversaries 4-0 at the Bernabeu.
Next up was a 5-2 triumph in the Supercopa final in Saudi Arabia, before Barca claimed the Copa del Rey trophy with an extra-time win on April 26.
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Madrid will feel they are overdue a victory against Flick’s side, but they have struggled to exploit Barcelona’s obvious defensive deficiencies up to now.
They could get something from this match, though, with Barcelona on a downer after losing to Inter in midweek.
However, Madrid have not exactly been firing on all cylinders of late, so Flick’s side should have enough to avoid defeat.
Tip a draw at 29/20 with Spreadex
Real Madrid to score first
Real Madrid have had a full week to prepare for the Clasico, whereas Barcelona did not arrive back in the city until Thursday morning following their trip to Milan.
That extraordinary game against Inter will have taken a lot out of Barcelona, mentally as well as physically.
It would not be at all surprising if the hosts made a slow start on Sunday. We like Madrid’s chances of drawing first blood, particularly at these odds.
The Blancos have opened the scoring 11 times away from home this term. No side in La Liga has a better record in that regard.
Choose Real Madrid to score first at 6/5 with Ladbrokes
Robert Lewandowski to score any time
Robert Lewandowski was clearly not fully fit when he entered the fray against Inter as a substitute.
Even so, the Poland international is in line to start the Clasico because of how important he is to this Barcelona team.
Ferran Torres is a capable deputy, but he cannot replicate what Lewandowski provides inside the 18-yard box.
The 36-year-old has shown his enduring class this season, scoring 25 goals in 31 La Liga matches.
Lewandowski is one ahead of Kylian Mbappe in the race to finish as the league’s top scorer. It could go either way, but we are more confident of the former finding the net this weekend.
Back Robert Lewandowski to score any time at 5/6 with SBK
How to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid
- Location: Estadio Olimpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain.
- Date and time: Sunday 11th May, 3.15pm.
- How to watch: Premier Sports 1.
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About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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