Barcelona vs Real Madrid Match Analysis and Prediction

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This Sunday brings the first El Clasico of the season as Barcelona and Real Madrid lock horns at the Camp Nou, with both the traditional arch-rivals currently in transition periods and will intent on proving their mettle in this clash which will kick off at 17:30.

The two sides are just two points apart after eight La Liga matches, but Real Madrid are in the third spot with 17 points while Barcelona are in the seventh place with 15 points. Indeed, it has been difficult start to the two La Liga giants with Barcelona largely struggling under Ronald Koeman and have failed to build a distinctive winning streak so far this season picking up four wins, three draws and a defeat in their opening eight matches, while Real Madrid have been fairly impressive under Carlo Ancelotti picking up five wins, two draws and a defeat in their eight matches.

However, Koeman’s side have recently proved that there is still some life in the old dog as they head into the match on the back of back-to-back victories having cruised to a 3-1 win against Valencia in their last La Liga fixture during which Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay and Philippe Coutinho made the net ripple setting their side up nicely for the midweek Champions League clash against Dynamo Kiev, where Gerard Pique’s lonely goal gave Barca their first three points in the competition.

Now the Blaugrana will need to step up to the plate in the Sunday’s clash which will be their first El Clasico without Lionel Messi whose record in this fixture will never be forgotten having scored a remarkable 26 goals with 18 of them being in La Liga.

Meanwhile Real Madrid started the season on fire but their run was brought to stand still with two stunning losses in a row, first losing 2-1 at home to Champions league debutants Sheriff Tiraspol before the 2-1 defeat away to Espanyol in the La Liga. However, Ancelotti’s side bounced back with an emphatic 5-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and will be looking to keep the momentum going. Also, Madrid should be confident of grabbing the points here having won in all their last three meetings.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid head to head

Both sides have met in 73 occasions since 1994 with Barcelona claiming 32 victories while Real Madrid have claimed 22 victories and there have been 19 draws.