The first El Clasico of the year should be the most watched domestic match in Europe by a mile this weekend. Everyone knows how deep the rivalry runs between Barcelona and Real Madrid. The two clubs have been bitter rivals for over 80 years, and their battles are incredibly intense. However, both teams have had far more domestic struggles than usual this campaign. Barcelona just recently broke a four match winless streak, and Real Madrid are currently seventh in the table. That puts increased pressure on both clubs to get a result.
Don't miss the Spanish La Liga action from Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain at 11:15 a.m. ET on Sunday, October 28, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on beIN Sports.
La Liga Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Real Madrid +259
Barcelona -104
Draw +283
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
Real Madrid were 4-1-0 through their first five matches of this La Liga campaign, and it looked like the decision to replace Zinedine Zidane with Julen Lopetegui was a prudent one early on. However, the team has fallen on its face recently, and their chances of winning La Liga are rapidly diminishing. Real Madrid lost 3-0 to Sevilla last month and drew at home with Atletico Madrid to close out the month. Their last two results have been even worse with Real Madrid losing 1-0 to lowly Alaves and falling 2-1 to Levante in the Bernabeu. That has led to speculation that Lopetegui might be sacked before the winter break, and he needs a result in Camp Nou to cool down his seat.
The Blaugrana have had some major issues in domestic play this year too. They were forced to settle for draws against Girona, Athletic Bilbao, and Valencia, and they suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of Leganes. They did right the ship against Sevilla last week though, beating the then-league leaders 4-2 to retake the top spot in La Liga. There are a half-dozen teams right on their heels though and Barca will fall behind once more if they don’t get a win here.
Injury Report
Both teams are going to be without some of their stars for this showdown. Real Madrid won’t have outside back Dani Carvajal for this one as he recovers from a calf injury, while fellow outside back Marcelo is a doubt due to an ankle issue. Forward Vinicius Junior won’t be available either after a red card he picked up was upheld by the league.
Those are key injuries, but Barca have been hit harder. Talisman Lionel Messi will be out for the next month with a broken arm, and defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Samuel Umtiti will be out for the next few weeks as well. Barcelona are optimistic that Sergi Samper can play in this important tilt though.
Matchup to Watch
The most shocking thing about Real Madrid’s form has been their inability to create much offense. The club has just 13 goals through nine games, and the trio of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Isco have been a bit disappointing lately. They started the year looking great, but things have gotten worse as the season has worn on and one of the three needs to break out against a Barca back line that is far more porous than usual.
La Liga Prop Bet – Real Madrid Over 1.5 goals at +135
I’m going to take a shot on the visitors to break out of their offensive slump. This Barca back line has had their share of problems, and I believe both sides are apt to playing a more open game than what we usually see. This isn’t a game where Real Madrid will sit back and let the game come to them, and I see them attacking early.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This match is going to be more fiery than usual due to the teams’ struggles and places in the table, so I like the over.
Spanish La Liga Odds: Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 2
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
