Barcelona vs Real Madrid predictions: Barca can take big step towards title
&w=707&quality=100)
- Barcelona are unbeaten at Montjuic in 2025
- Real Madrid have lost to the Blaugrana three times in 2024-25
- Recommended bet: Barcelona to win and both teams to score
Barcelona's treble dreams were ended by Tuesday's 4-3 defeat to Inter Milan after extra-time but they could all but seal the LaLiga title by beating Real Madrid on Sunday.
The Blaugrana sit four points clear of Los Blancos and a seven-point advantage with three games to go would be almost insurmountable.
Hansi Flick's side completed the first leg of a potential treble with last month's 3-2 Copa del Rey final win - also after extra-time - over Real in Seville, having already defeated them 5-2 in the Super Cup and 4-0 at the Bernabeu in the league.
These games are rarely dull, but while Real have wonderful attackers, they are short of numbers in defence and could suffer another defeat.
Team news
Knee issues sideline Barcelona youngsters Marc Bernal, Marc Casado and Pablo Torre, while Jules Kounde, suspended for the defeat against Inter, has a hamstring issue.
Alejandro Balde has returned to training following his own hamstring problem and could start on Sunday.
Real are without key defenders Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Eder Militao (all knee), Ferland Mendy (thigh) and midfielder Eduardo Camavinga (Tendon).
Rudiger would also have been suspended for his part in the melee that marred the end of the Copa del Rey final.
The stats
After losing all three Clasico meetings in 2023-24, Barcelona have beaten Real three times this season.
All three games have featured four or more goals.
Barcelona's Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski have both scored three times across the three meetings.
Kylian Mbappe is Real's leading scorer in the 2024-25 Clasicos with two goals.
Barca's Wojciech Szczesny was sent off in his team's 5-2 Super Cup victory, while Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez and Jude Bellingham were all given red cards for varying reasons — both on and off the pitch — in the Copa del Rey.
Prediction
&w=707&quality=100)
Barcelona's 7-6 aggregate defeat to Inter was an all-time Champions League classic but that will be no consolation to Flick and his side.
However, they have a great chance to respond against bitter rivals Real and know a victory would all but seal the LaLiga title and the domestic double.
Los Blancos have had a frustrating campaign in which they have sometimes self-destructed, as demonstrated by those disciplinary issues in Seville.
It is almost miraculous that they are still in contention to defend their LaLiga crown in what looks set to be Carlo Ancelotti's final season at the club.
The Italian is sure to have a plan to try to counter Barcelona's attackers, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal expected to shine.
However, while he can call on Mbappe, Bellingham, Vinicius Jnr, Rodrygo and others, Ancelotti has struggled to gel them together.
With his superstars also occasionally reluctant to defend, it could open up for Barca, who are still unbeaten at home in 2025.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
