The first La Liga El Clasico of the season takes place on Saturday as Real Madrid entertain the runaway league leaders Barcelona.
Madrid are slowly getting back on track, however have just three wins in their last six La Liga fixtures.
A Cristiano Ronaldo winner helped them beat Gremio in the Club World Cup Final last weekend.
Barcelona took advantage of Madrid’s lack of a fixture by beating Deportivo 4-0 at the Nou Camp.
Both Luis Suarez and Paulinho scored twice in a comfortable win for Barcelona.
La Liga form: Real Madrid W3 D2 L0; Barcelona W3 D2 L0
La Liga top scorers
Real Madrid – Four players on 4 goals
Barcelona – Lionel Messi 14 goals
Match history
Real Madrid eased to the pre-season Kings Cup against Barcelona, winning 5-1 on aggregate.
Last season in La Liga though, Barcelona took four points off Madrid, however Zinedine Zidane’s side had the last laugh as they lifted the league.
Last five La Liga meetings
Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 3 – 24/04/17
Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 1 – 03/12/16
Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 2 – 02/04/16
Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 4 – 21/11/15
Barcelona 2 Real Madrid 1 – 22/03/15
Real Madrid HT / Draw FT – 14/1 with Bet Victor
Team news
Real Madrid have a near fully fit squad available for the El Clasico, however Gareth Bale is set to be among the substitutes.
Both Casemiro and Sergio Ramos return from domestic bans in time for the fixture.
Barcelona will be without key defender Samuel Umtiti here, meaning the former Arsenal man Thomas Vermaelen is set to continue in defence.
Sergi Roberto should be preferred to Nelson Semedo at right-back.
Expected starting XI’s
Real Madrid (4-3-1-2): Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo
Barcelona (4-3-1-2): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Paulinho; Messi, Suarez
Predictions
Result: Draw (3/1 with Betfred)
Correct Score: 2-2 (17/2 with Bet 365)
Anytime Goalscorer: Sergio Ramos (8/1 with Betfair)
