La Liga: Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Preview |Team News | Time | Prediction

Two powerhouses of European football are all set to reignite their rivalry at the grandest stage as Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, October 16.

Separated by only goal difference, the margin for error will be minimal as both teams try to out stage one another as they put their unbeaten records at the stake in Sunday’s mouth-watering clash. Boosted by new arrivals in the summer, the clash will have the eyes of the world cast on the high-profile La Liga clash.

• Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are unbeaten in La Liga this season and have dropped only two points so far
• A win for either side will see them claim the top spot in La Liga with high stakes on offer
• Barcelona’s last visit to the stadium in La Liga saw them win 4-0 but had little bearing on the final outcome as Real won both La Liga and Champions League

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Head to Head 

This will be the 250th meeting between the sides and will be the most crucial in the early title race picture. Real have won the fixture on 100 occasions, with 76 wins coming in La Liga while Barcelona have 73 wins in the league. The affairs have ended at a stalemate on 35 occasions. Real however would be desperate to exact revenge on their arch-rivals having suffered an embarrassing 4-0 defeat back in March.

This will be Xavi’s second La Liga El Classico and will look to keep a perfect record while Carlo Ancelotti will have to put a definite plan in place to stop the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Co.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Head-to-Head

Real Madrid vs Barcelona 2022-23 Season so far

Real Madrid will turn their attention to the league for the rest of the season after they secured qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League. A Karim Benzema missed a penalty in the final 15 minutes against Osasuna cost Real two points and a place at the top in their last home outing. The 1-1 draw against Osasuna so far remains the only time that the Los Blancos have dropped points in the season.

Barcelona on the flip side are on a run of seven consecutive wins having dropped points against Rayo Vallecano on the opening weekend. Since then the Catalans are enjoying a remarkable run and have conceded only once in the entire season. Interestingly, they have kept five consecutive clean sheets in La Liga, making them the most lethal defense in entire Europe.

However, despite a brilliant domestic season, Xavi’s Barcelona is on the brink of elimination from the Champions League having dropped points at home against Inter Milan in the midweek. Their elimination would have been confirmed in the midweek game, had Lewandowski not equalized.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Team News

Real Madrid 

Real Madrid would be optimistic about Antonio Rüdiger’s availability after he suffered a head injury which has seen him get 20 stitches. Thibaut Courtois is out of the contest as he continues to remain sidelined with his long-term injury.

Injured: Rudiger, Courtois

Barcelona 

Barcelona will be bidding to bounce back from Wednesday's disappointing result in the Champions League when they take on Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.

The Catalan outfit drew 3-3 with Inter Milan in Europe during the week, which has left them third in Group C, three points behind second-placed Inter with two games left. 

Injured: Memphis Depay, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Hector Bellerin, Andreas Christensen

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Predicted Lineup

Predicted Real Madrid Starting XI (4-3-3): 

Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Tchouameni, Kroos, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius 

Predicted Barcelona Starting XI (4-3-3): 

Ter Stegen; Roberto, Garcia, Pique, Alonso; De Jong, Pedri, Kessie; Dembele, Lewandowski, Raphinha 

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Date, kick-off time, and venue

The La Liga Matchweek 9 encounter on Sunday, October 16 will kick-off at 7:45 PM IST, 5:15 PM Local Time

Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid

Prediction

Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona