MX23RW : Monday, November 25 13:46:03| >> :120:4665:4665:
[monks data]
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


ID:212286: cacheID:212286:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4766:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Iker Casillas for Real Madrid on August 12, 2014
Read Next:
Team News: Casillas dropped for Real Madrid
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!