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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Mar 22, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

2-1

Mathieu (19'), Suarez (56')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Ronaldo (31')

Preview: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

Sports Mole previews Sunday's EL Clasico at the Camp Nou between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique will be hoping that striker Lionel Messi can continue his masterful form when his side host Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday night.

Messi earned widespread plaudits for his performance against Manchester City in midweek as he helped the Catalan giants progress through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

That victory continued the club's recent fine form in all competitions, with nine wins being recorded from their last 10 La Liga fixtures to move a point clear of Real in the standings

Enrique will be without midfielder Sergio Busquets, who is still nursing an ankle injury, but Claudio Bravo will return in place of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Real head into the contest having enjoyed a seven-day break after their 2-0 win over Levante, the first in the league in three matches.

That result was vital ahead of their trip to the Camp Nou, but coach Carlo Ancelotti will be aware of the importance of this fixture, with defeat resulting in a four-point deficit and perhaps moving him closer to the exit door in the summer.

Winger Gareth Bale netted twice last weekend to silence his doubters for the time being, but the Welsh international needs a big performance against the club's arch rivals.

Midfielder Toni Kroos could be recalled to the starting lineup in place of Lucas Silva, but Raphael Varane is likely to have to make do with a place on the substitutes' bench.

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: WWLWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Mascherano, Iniesta, Rakitic; Neymar, Messi, Suarez

Real Madrid:

Form in La Liga: LWWDLW
Form in all competitions: WWDLLW

Possible starting lineup: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Sports Mole says: 3-1


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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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