Barcelona vs Real Madrid preview, team news, stats and prediction

The highly-anticipated clash between Spanish giants, Barcelona and Real Madrid is set to unfold at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, reigniting the biggest rivalry in world football. Fans from across the globe are eagerly awaiting this thrilling Laliga showdown.

In this season’s first Clasico, defending champions Barcelona play host to current league leaders Madrid, with just a one-point gap between these two rivals. Xavi’s squad remains the only unbeaten team in La Liga after 10 matches, while Madrid boasts the league’s most solid defense, having allowed just seven goals.

In their recent outings, Barcelona secured a 1-0 victory at home against Athletic Bilbao, with young debutant, Marc Guiu netting the decisive goal, while Real Madrid settled for a 1-1 draw with Sevilla, as Dani Carvajal found the back of the net.

The stakes are high in this encounter. A victory for Barcelona would propel them above their archrivals in the league standings, considering their one-point difference.

Conversely, should Carlo Ancelotti’s side emerge triumphant, it would send a powerful message in the race for the La Liga title, as both teams appear poised to minimize their losses throughout the competition. As you can imagine, it’s extremely difficult to secure Real Madrid tickets for this game as all football fans are desperate to watch El Classico games.

Last season, Barcelona emerged victorious in three of their five meetings, eventually clinching the La Liga title. Additionally, they triumphed 3-0 during a preseason encounter. This has undoubtedly left Carlo Ancelotti’s side yearning for revenge against Xavi’s squad, who are set to don a special kit adorned with the Rolling Stones logo.

BARCELONA VS REAL MADRID: MATCH DETAILS

• Match Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
• Match Time: 10:15 AM ET
• Venue: Olímpic Lluís Companys

JUDE BELLINGHAM SET TO STAR IN  EL CLASSICO DEBUT 

The 20-year-old sensation who made a €103 million switch from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid during the summer, is rapidly becoming the standout signing of the season.

This promising young talent, considered the frontrunner for the European Golden Boy award, has swiftly cemented his status as one of the world’s premier midfielders. With a sensational start to his Los Blancos journey, he is already being hailed as a Galactico.

Carlo Ancelotti has entrusted Bellingham with the coveted No. 10 position, where he has not only showcased his outstanding skills but also made significant contributions to the goal tally. The English international has made a remarkable impact by becoming La Liga’s leading scorer with 8 goals, putting him in contention for the Pichichi award.

Sunday’s encounter with Barcelona will provide another opportunity for Madrid’s most expensive signing to set his stamp on the folklore of El Classico

JOÃO FELIX TO END REAL MADRID HOODOO? 

João Félix’s encounters with Madrid have painted a stark contrast to his otherwise illustrious career.

In the eight matches he’s played against Los Blancos, representing both Atletico and Chelsea, Félix’s record is marred by zero wins, accompanied by two draws and six defeats. Notably, he hasn’t managed to register a single goal or assist in any of these encounters. The 23-year-old has not been able to complete a full match against Madrid either, often beginning as a substitute and then being substituted in the course of the games.

Some of the most bitter moments in Félix’s history against Madrid include losing his first final with Atletico, in the 2020 Spanish Supercup when they were defeated 4-1 on penalties. Then, during his half-season loan to Chelsea, he endured a comprehensive defeat in the Champions League quarterfinal as Madrid routed Frank Lampard’s side 4-0 on aggregate.

As Barcelona gear up to face Madrid in the first Clasico of the season, Felix will hope it’s time to seek a different savor. Madrid currently hold a slim one-point lead over the defending LaLiga champions as they prepare to meet at a stadium where Barcelona have maintained a perfect winning record since moving there in August.

Surrounded by teammates who are no strangers to triumphs against Madrid, Félix now has a supporting cast that boasts an impressive recent win record. While it may be unwise to place the burden of being Barcelona’s key man or the sole protagonist who can tilt the Clasico in favor of the Blaugrana on an inconsistent and somewhat self-focused playmaker, Félix remains an intriguing component of a competitive unit that could help him shed his dismal record against the men in white shirts.

BARCELONA VS REAL MADRID MATCH STATS AND HEAD-TO-HEAD 

• Barcelona have won their last six La Liga home matches in a row.
• Barcelona have scored in their last 10 home La Liga games.
• Real Madrid scored in their last seven La Liga road games.
• Both teams have scored in two of Real Madrid’s last three away La Liga matches.
• Barcelona opened the scoring in three of Real’s last five La Liga away games.
• The most recent meeting was a Copa del Rey tie which saw Karim Benzema score on three occasions as Real Madrid ran out 4-0 winners.
• Barcelona scores 2.2 goals per match (third in LaLiga), while Real Madrid concedes 0.7 per game (first in league).
• Real Madrid rank fourth in LaLiga offensively, averaging 2.1 goals per game, while Barcelona rank fourth defensively after conceding 1.0 goal per match.
• Barcelona have a +12 goal differential, ranking third in league play.
• Real Madrid have a +14 goal differential for the season, ranking second in the league.
• Barcelona have recorded 153 shots across 10 matches (second in LaLiga), while Real Madrid have conceded 39 opponent shots over 10 matches (third).
• Real Madrid have taken 168 shots in 10 games (first in LaLiga), and Barcelona have faced 37 shots in 10 (second in the league).
• Los Blancos have the longest winning run in the El Clasico spanning 7 games and which was set between 1962 to 1965.
• Barcelona hold the second-longest unbeaten run as the Catalans had five consecutive victories followed by a win and a draw between 2008 to 2010.
• There have been a total of 249 competitive Clásicos and 34 exhibition or friendly games during Real Madrid and Barcelona’s long-standing rivalry.

BARCELONA VS REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS 

Barcelona had several injuries in their last match against Athletic Bilbao, including Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, and Sergi Roberto.

Young players were brought into the squad, and academy graduate Marc Guiu scored on his debut. Former Manchester City players Ilkay Gundogan, Joao Cancelo, and Ferran Torres are expected to start El Clasico alongside Joao Felix.

Madrid will be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has an ACL injury. Chelsea loanee Kepa is expected to start in his place.

David Alaba has recovered from an injury and started last time, but Eder Militao remains sidelined with a long-term issue. Jude Bellingham, despite some minor discomfort, is confirmed to start in an advanced midfield role behind Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

BARCELONA VS REAL MADRID PREDICTION

The El Clásico fixture is renowned for its inherent unpredictability over the years. Both Barcelona and Madrid have displayed commendable form in LaLiga this season, making this upcoming clash a highly anticipated and fiercely contested affair.

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that Barcelona hold the advantage of playing on their home turf, and their undefeated streak throughout the season thus far further bolsters their position. Therefore, considering these factors, Barcelona emerge as the favored side to secure victory in this encounter.