Barcelona vs Real Madrid: El Clasico preview and prediction

Sunday’s derby showdown comes at a key moment in the LaLiga title race with the Blaugrana a hefty nine points clear as the business end of the season draws closer.

Madrid may be into the quarter-finals of the Champions League but, despite defeating Barcelona back at the Bernabeu, they have lost two Clasico contests since in the Supercopa de Espana final and Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Barcelona vs Real Madrid is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off time tonight on Sunday March 19, 2023.

The match will take place at the Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Where to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on ViaPlay and LaLiga TV.

Live stream: Subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the ViaPlay and LaLiga TV apps and websites.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid team news

Pedri will miss out for Barcelona after withdrawing from Spain duty with a hamstring injury and then being omitted from Xavi’s matchday group.

Ousmane Dembele will also miss out having suffered a setback in his own comeback bid, but Ronald Araujo is back from suspension and top scorer Robert Lewandowski fit.

For Madrid, Karim Benzema was once again an injury doubt having picked up a leg knock against Liverpool in midweek, but he’s fit to play tonight.

Ferland Mendy could start after making the bench in that game, leaving David Alaba and Alvaro Rodriguez as the only other concerns for Carlo Ancelotti.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid prediction

Barcelona have genuine reason to believe this is their year to reclaim the LaLiga crown off Madrid and a win here will virtually secure that.

Barcelona to win, 3-1.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

A century of Clasico victories await the Catalans if they win this derby, having scored only six fewer goals than Los Blancos in their 252 competitive meetings.

Barcelona wins: 99

Draws: 52

Real Madrid wins: 101

Barcelona vs Real Madrid match odds

Barcelona to win: 11/10

Draw: 12/5

Real Madrid to win: 13/5

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).