El Clasico: Trailblazing Barca good bet to beat rivals Real
Published:
Matt Haynes | November 20, 2015
Real Madrid v Barcelona
- La Liga
- Saturday, November 21st
- Kick-off: 17:15 GMT
- Bernabeu, Madrid
- Live on Sky Sports 2
Can Barca continue winning streak?
Under Luis Enrique this season, treble winners Barcelona have pretty much picked up where they left off last term. They are unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions and sit top of La Liga by three points to opponents Real Madrid, while they are four ahead of Atletico Madrid.
Barca are 13/8 with Coral to beat Real Madrid and, having recorded consecutive 3-0 victories over BATE Borisov and Villarreal, this is a decent price. Despite losing this fixture 3-1 last season, the match occurred in October while Enrique was still getting to grips with his new squad and finding out his best team, though it was a more favourable result at the Nou Camp as the Catalan club recorded a 2-1 victory.
In-form Neymar can strike again at Bernabeu
With Lionel Messi missing eight weeks of the season, Brazilian Neymar has stepped out of the Argentine’s shadow, shouldering scoring responsibility rambunctiously in his delivery. Across all competitions, the attacker has scored 13 goals in 14 matches and, having netted in this fixture last term, is 9/2 to break the deadlock.
In his last three matches, the 23-year-old has dispatched five goals, bagging braces in two of those games. To score two or more against Real, his 6/1 price might be good value. Luis Suarez, meanwhile, who struck in the reverse last term, is on offer at 5/1 to open the scoring.
Should Messi make an appearance, he is 5/1 to notch two or more goals and Suarez has claimed that his teammate has looked good since returning to training.
“Whether he plays or not is down to the coach, the medics and how he feels but he has been looking sharp in training,” Suarez said on Wednesday. “However, it is the type of injury where there are risks for the future.
“Messi is a player that makes a difference in all games and in clásicos he has always made a big impact but we will have to see if he is ready.”
Internal Madrid mutiny could have effect
Having recorded their first defeat of the season across all competitions last time out, there has been a real backlash from players against gaffer Rafa Benitez, apparently led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who has questioned the Spaniard’s strategies.
With eight La Liga goals this season, Ronaldo is priced at 3/1 to strike first and netted in both matches last term. In the 3-2 loss to Sevilla previously, James Rodriguez and Sergio Ramos were on the scoresheet and the latter dispatched in this fixture three years ago. At 7/1 in the anytime market, this could be good value and is a credible threat from set pieces.
Gareth Bale will also be hoping to make an impact in ‘El Clasico’. His remarkable goal in the Copa del Rey final two seasons ago won Real Madrid the cup and as a result, the Welsh winger is on offer at a tempting 2/1 in the anytime market.
Related
Check out our La Liga archive
