El Clasico Inquisition: Barcelona vs Real Madrid - Goal.com’s Predictions

Predicting the result of football matches is an impossible art… or science. Forecasting how an El Clasico clash will unfold and what the outcome will be, on the other hand, is simply not done, if you know what’s good for you.

Some decline making any predictions at all to avoid putting a jinx on their team, while others stay clear of it to avoid embarrassment. At Goal.com, neither applies.

So, without further stalling the proverbial guillotine, here are our predictions for this Sunday’s Clasico face-off. Some are bold, some more conservative, but one thing is clear… form book, injury problems and past meetings all go down the drain when these two juggernauts lock horns.

KS Leong

Real Madrid are still too disjointed to match Barcelona by playing attacking football and they may have to, for the first time this season, adopt a defensive approach if they stand any chance of leaving Catalunya with a decent result. The Blaugrana will look to assert their dominance right from the start and take advantage of Madrid's frailties at the back but Pep Guardiola's rearguard aren't very assured themselves. They have been punished a few times on the counterattack this season and if Los Blancos are to exploit that weakness, they have to charge forward with speed... something that they are capable of doing if Cristiano Ronaldo is on the pitch.

Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid

Ewan Macdonald

There is no reason to think that Barca can't find the energy to haul their depleted squad over the line at home. The respective returns of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will grab the headlines, but this game will be won and lost in midfield and in terms of possession. Here Barcelona have the upper hand and I fully expect them to prevail.

Barcelona 2-0 Real Madrid

Lucas Brown

Real Madrid may have spent millions, but they are missing a driving force, an inspirational captain like Fernando Hierro was. Barcelona have become the most attractive and most effective team in the world and will show just how big the gulf is between them and their arch rivals on Sunday.

Barcelona 4-1 Real Madrid

Anthony Wright

Both teams will have had testing weeks in the Champions League, as qualification is far from assured for either with a game to go. While Real Madrid have Cristiano Ronaldo returning from injury, they will be lucky to see him reach top form so soon after his recovery. Barcelona, on the other hand, have a number of players either recuperating from illness or injury while others look to be suffering from fatigue against Athletic Bilbao and Inter. Pep Guardiola's side are not the team of last year, and this may become increasingly evident against their bitterest rivals.

Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid

Cyrus C. Malek

Real Madrid come into the Catalunyan capital as leaders in the table and will face a Barcelona team that have had a busy week against Athletic Bilbao and Inter. Further, Ibrahimovic and Messi could be out injured for the match, leaving Guardiola without his ideal line-up. Madrid have a chance to make the Liga pendulum finally swing in their favor, and with Kaka, Benzema, Higuain, and Cristiano Ronaldo in the attack, it is very possible that Los Merengues will be able to atone for last year's humiliating loss in the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barcelona 2-3 Real Madrid

Subhankar Mondal

This will be a close match and I expect Madrid to come away with maximum points. Of course, being a 'derbi' there is no logical reason to support one's prediction but I think Madrid have started to pick up momentum. They are not playing especially good - and neither are Barcelona, although they did teach Inter and Jose Mourinho a footballing lesson on Tuesday - and have been unconvincing at times but I expect the Madrid players to lift themselves up for the biggest game in the universe.

Madrid have already lost the two really big matches they have played this season (against Sevilla and Milan) and president Florentino Perez would make sure that his players don't slip up now. I don't see the Galacticos playing galactic football at Camp Nou but if Cristiano Ronaldo starts and Benzema is given the nod ahead of Raul upfront, I do think Barcelona would find it tough to cope with their attack, especially since Messi and Ibrahimovic could be out.

Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid

Sulmaan Ahmad

At the back-end of last season, everybody - including myself - was convinced that Real Madrid, without being spectacular, had the function to overthrow a slightly overburdened Barcelona. The 6-2 result to the contrary, while largely due to kamikaze, Alcorcon-like tactics, was equally testament to Pep Guardiola turning a page in Barca's somewhat self-destructive recent history.

Here we are again: Madrid aren't reaching expectations in style while still having the recent results to better Barca, again Barca's cohesion is greater and style more seamless, yet their own limitations find them struggling. Pep's troops have the resolution and tactical acumen to turn it all around and accordingly, would be the favorites if the result had to go one way or the other; but this won't be a 6-2 scenario. The differences this time are that Madrid are away, and not obligated to attack as they did in their demolition, and also that a draw keeps them ahead of the Blaugrana in La Liga. And that, while not being what either side might play for, will be the most likely result.

Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid

Paul Macdonald

Messi and Ibrahimovic are both likely to play for the Blaugrana, but will not be at full fitness and without that duo at their dynamic best, Real Madrid could sense an opportunity. As Sul said, I also do not envisage the feast of attacking football and abundance of goals we saw at the Bernabeu last season. Madrid's defense may be susceptible and Barca have yet to convince that they are as formidable in attack as they were last season, but matches like this produce super-human performances that go against type, so any form guide is usually rendered irrelevant. El Clasico is invariably unpredictable, but I'll stick my neck out and tip Madrid to edge it… just.

Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid

Paul Madden

Drawing against Athletic Bilbao last week has proved to be the perfect result to spur Barca going into the biggest week of the season so far. They made Inter look ordinary, while Madrid were hardly convincing against FC Zurich. Even potentially without Messi and/or Ibrahimovic, Barca possess an almost telepathic unity that Madrid simply cannot replicate at this stage of their development. The first goal will prove crucial but Barca are the best team in world football and I fully expect them to have the necessary desire to win and recapture top spot in La Liga.

Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid

Arjun Miglani

Barca are facing several injury, illness and player fitness problems. Real Madrid, meanwhile, remain far from convincing. They were fortunate to get three points against Racing Santander, and every decent attack they have come across (Sevilla, Milan, even Alcorcon!) has made them pay. But does any of it really matter? Conventional wisdom is irrelevant for these games. Any result is possible, as evidenced by some of the amazing scorelines from recent times, but despite their personnel issues, Barca still look a more balanced and threatening side, so they should just edge this one. Whatever happens, goals will be in plentiful supply.

Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid

Ashish Sharma

There are many pretenders to the throne, but there is only ever one king.  

Barcelona 3-0 Real Madrid

The tally is in and the hosts appear to have the edge, but the visitors are not short of support: six predicted a Barca win, four for Madrid and one for a draw. Now that we have put our necks on the line, it is your turn. Let us know what your prediction is for El Clasico…

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