Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Match Preview, Team news, Dream11 Predictions

Barcelona vs Real Madrid is the next match in La liga. The El classico, as it's known as is considered to be the biggest match in Spanish football as two giants of Spanish football battle it out for bragging rights.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Match Preview:

Real Madrid:

Real Madrid have not been without their problems this season, but the capital giants have been, by a distance, the standout side in Spain's top flight this term, and it would be a huge surprise if they were unable to win the title from this position, boasting a 10-point advantage over second-placed Sevilla.

Ancelotti's side are chasing a league and Champions League double this season, and the club will take on Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the European Cup, with the first leg due to take place at Stamford Bridge on April 6 before the return fixture at Bernabeu on April 12.

Real Madrid have won each of their last four matches in Spain's top flight, including a 3-0 victory at Mallorca on Monday night, with Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema on the scoresheet at Visit Mallorca Estadi.

As well as a 10-point advantage over Sevilla, Los Blancos are 15 clear of both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, although the Catalan side have a match in hand and will certainly believe that they are capable of catching Sevilla, while Atletico will also be eyeing the position directly behind their capital rivals.

Real Madrid have the best home record in La Liga this season, winning 10 and drawing four of their 14 matches to collect 34 points, while they have won each of their last four league games with Barcelona, including a 2-1 success at Camp Nou earlier this season.

Barcelona:

Barcelona have not actually beaten Real Madrid in La Liga since March 2019 - losing four of their last five meetings in Spain's top flight - but it would be fair to say that they are a different side to the one that lost the reverse match at Camp Nou back in October.

The Catalan outfit have also won their last four league matches, including a 4-0 success over Osasuna last weekend, while they are unbeaten in Spain's top flight since the start of December, with Xavi taking the team forward since returning to the club as head coach last November.

While Real Madrid have not been in action since Monday, Barcelona played on Thursday evening in Turkey, recording a 2-1 win over Galatasaray to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they will take on Eintracht Frankfurt for a position in the semi-finals.

Xavi's side are entering a huge period of their season, with their next two in the league coming against Real Madrid and Sevilla before travelling to Frankfurt for the first leg of their last-eight affair.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough season for Blaugrana but lifting the Europa League trophy and claiming second spot in La Liga would be seen as a success ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window.

Team News:

Real Madrid:

Karim Benzema missed Saturday morning's training session for Real Madrid, and the France international has since been ruled out of this match due to a calf problem.

Rodrygo has been declared fit despite taking a heavy knock against Mallorca, but Ferland Mendy picked up a muscular problem last time out and is unavailable, so Nacho is expected to start at left-back.

Ancelotti is unlikely to spring any surprises in midfield, with Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric set to feature once again, while Marco Asensio is likely to be given the nod on the right.

Benzema's absence will open the door for Gareth Bale, Mariano Diaz, Luka Jovic or Isco to start, and the latter could get the nod to play as a false nine this weekend.

Barcelona:

As for Barcelona, Alejandro Balde, Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto and Samuel Umtiti remain unavailable for selection, while Sergino Dest has also been ruled out with a hamstring problem.

Head coach Xavi is expected to make a couple of changes from the side that started against Galatasaray, with Dani Alves potentially returning at right-back, while Ousmane Dembele could take the place of Adama Traore to feature alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ferran Torres in a front three.

The midfield picks itself, but there is still a question mark over Gerard Pique's centre-back partner, and the indications are that Eric Garcia will get the nod over Ronald Araujo in El Clasico.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Head to Head:

Last 6 Competitive Meetings, 5 Real Madrid Wins, 1 Draw. Real Madrid have won all of the past five meetings between the two teams. The last Clasico fixture was a Spanish Super Cup semi-final which took place in January and saw Real Madrid win 3-2 after Extra Time. Barcelona have not won at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2019 when Ivan Rakitic scored in a 1-0 win for the Blaugrana.

Recent form in all competitions:

Real Madrid:

3-0 win over Alaves

1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano

4-1 win over Real Sociedad

3-1 win over PSG

3-0 win over Mallorca

Barcelona:

4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao

2-1 win over Elche

0-0 draw against Galatasaray

4-0 win over Osasuna

2-1 win over Galatasaray

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Possible Line-ups:

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Nacho; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Asensio, Isco, Vinicius

Barcelona possible starting lineup:Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Garcia, Alba; Pedri, Busquets, F de Jong; Dembele, Aubameyang, Ferran Torres

RM vs BAR: Dream11 Predictions: