Real Madrid vs Barcelona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-10-15 14:15.
As Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in the 250th competitive El Clásico, eyes all over the world will be trained on the Spanish capital. Adding to the spectacle, it’s a top-of-the-table La Liga (LL) clash with both sides sharing identical league records this term (W7, D1) and comfortably clear of their nearest challengers.
Madrid snatched a last-gasp 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw on Tuesday night against Shakhtar Donetsk and although they rested players who should feature here, it was an underwhelming performance. Even manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that “we played really poorly tonight,” before praising his side for never giving up.
They’ve needed those battling qualities, as Madrid haven’t dominated games from the off in recent weeks, even at home. In two of their last four home outings, Los Blancos needed goals after the 70th minute to finish off the job, although they failed to score after half-time in each of their last two fixtures at Santiago Bernabéu.
Seeking to capitalise on any potential weaknesses in the Madrid ranks, Barcelona come into this derby following seven straight LL victories, the last six of those without conceding. With memories of last term’s 4-0 H2H win at this venue still fresh in the memory, they’re targeting two successive LL H2H wins for the first time since March 2019 and should be buoyed by Wednesday’s come-from-behind 3-3 Champions League draw with Inter Milan.
Impressively, Barca have won four of the last six H2Hs in Madrid (L2) and are eyeing up overtaking Madrid in the LL H2H scoring stakes – both stand level at 295 goals (Barcelona: W73, D35, L76). If so, they might get it done early as they’ve netted within 25 minutes in three of their last four league away games.
Key battle: VinĂcius JĂşnior has scored in four of Madrid’s last five home games, twice opening the scoring, but he’ll have to beat Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-AndrĂ© ter Stegen, who hasn’t conceded for 624 minutes in LL and has saved 95% of shots he’s faced in the league this term.
Hot streak: The last seven H2Hs in Madrid were won by the team scoring first (Madrid: W3, L4).