Real Madrid vs Barcelona Prediction and Betting Preview, 01 Mar 2020

Here's our Real Madrid vs Barcelona Prediction analysis:

It’s here! El Classico is here once again! Estadio Santiago Bernabeu will play host to what is widely regarded as one of the biggest football matches in the world as table toppers, Barcelona take on fierce rivals, Real Madrid.

Match status: 2019-20 La Liga - Matchweek 26
Kick-off: Sunday 01 Mar 2020, 09:00pm CET
 Venue: Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid)

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4y ago

Following a disappointing capitulation at home to Man City in their midweek UCL fixture, and recent inconsistent displays in the league, Madrid will be looking to prove a point. What better way to do that than record a convincing victory over eternal rivals, Barcelona?

Having led the league table for the past month, a draw and a loss in their last two leagues matches has seen Real Madrid relinquish their position at the top of the table to Barcelona. However, victory in this encounter will put Madrid right back on top, and in the driver’s seat as they continue their search for an elusive league title.

Barcelona this season are a shadow of the dominant side we have seen play over the years, but one way or the other, they remain top of the league standings.

Having crashed out of Copa del Rey, and with a UCL triumph looking more unlikely, winning La Liga is the only way to ensure Barca don’t go trophyless this season. Barca will certainly be desperate to get one over their rivals and extend their dominance on the domestic scene.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Team News

When Real were sat at the top of the standings several weeks ago, Zinedine Zidane still found himself coming in for criticism with his side less than convincing in some of their victories.

With just one win coming from their last five in all competitions, which includes defeats in the Copa del Rey and Champions League, Zidane has come under further scrutiny from a demanding fanbase.

Although a win over their great rivals will change the mood at the Bernabeu, a second successive loss in La Liga will leave Barcelona five points clear with just 12 matches remaining.

When taking the manner of their setback against Man City into consideration, Zidane will feel that Sunday's showdown has come at the perfect time for his players to prove their worth.

Karim Benzema has 18 goals to his name for the season, but the experienced Frenchman has now gone five games without finding the back of the net.

Like his counterpart in the dugouts, Quique Setien felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders when replacing Ernesto Valverde as Barcelona manager in the middle of January.

However, after an indifferent start to life at Camp Nou, Setien has witnessed Barca record three successive wins in La Liga, a streak which has taken the club back into first place.

Their unbeaten run was extended on Tuesday night with a 1-1 draw away at Napoli in the Champions League last 16, putting the Catalan giants in a position to take advantage in next month's reverse fixture.

There will be those who still have reservations about the former Real Betis man, but the 61-year-old deserves plenty of credit for improving results when having to contend with numerous selection issues.

Although the arrival of Martin Braithwaite has boosted numbers in the final third, Setien is having to manage the workload of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann.

The pair have chipped in with six of Barcelona's last eight goals, strengthening the argument that the club could miss out of silverware this season should either man join Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez in the treatment room.

Injured or Suspended Players

Real Madrid: Marco Asensio, M. Diaz, Hazard and Rodrygo.

Barcelona: Luis Suarez, Dembele, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Pique.

Pre-Match Odds

Real Madrid: 2.26
Draw: 3.4
Barcelona: 3.34

All odds are with 1xBet and are subject to change.
All odds are for Real Madrid vs Barcelona Predictions with 1xBet and are subject to change.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Predictions

Although Real are yet to suffer a home league defeat this season, Barcelona will be confident of ending that streak on Sunday. The Catalan giants will have concerns about restricting Los Blancos at one end, but we feel that Messi and co will deliver in the final third.