Spain - Primera Division
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Played
March 2, 2013 3:00 PM GMT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ Miguel Pérez‎
Attendance:‬ 83500‎
 

Real Madrid-Barcelona Preview: Blaugrana out to avenge Copa exit

The Catalan giants will be itching for payback at Santiago Bernabeu after getting dismantled by Jose Mourinho's side in Tuesday's cup semi-final second leg at Camp Nou

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid (Getty)
Getty
Real Madrid are set to make several changes for Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona to conserve energy for the midweek Champions League trip to Manchester United.

Marcelo, Luka Modric, Kaka and Karim Benzema could all feature after missing out in the 3-1 Copa del Rey win at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Defender Sergio Ramos returns after serving a one-match ban, but winger Angel Di Maria is ineligible after his red card against Deportivo La Coruna.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is expected to start despite missing training with a fever on Wednesday.

Defender Adriano (hamstring) is available while midfielder Alex Song (knee) is a minor doubt.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Real Madrid have won 10 of their last 11 home matches in La Liga and are unbeaten in their last 24.
  • Los Blancos' 3-1 win over Barcelona on Tuesday was their biggest victory at Camp Nou since a 5-1 success in January 1963.
  • Madrid have netted 101 goals in 42 matches across all competitions this season (2.4 goals per game).
  • Barcelona have won just three of their last seven matches in all competitions (W3, D2, L2).
  • The Blaugrana have recorded only one victory in their last seven encounters against Madrid (W1, D3, L3).
  • Lionel Messi (pictured, right) has scored in a record 15 successive Liga matches.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Real Madrid CF 2-1 FC Barcelona
    14.19 %
  • Real Madrid CF 1-3 FC Barcelona
    10.13 %
  • Real Madrid CF 3-1 FC Barcelona
    8.03 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Mar 2, 2013 Real Madrid CF 2 - FC Barcelona 1
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Spain - Copa del Rey ‎(ESPC)‎ Feb 26, 2013 FC Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid CF 3
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Spain - Copa del Rey ‎(ESPC)‎ Jan 30, 2013 Real Madrid CF 1 - FC Barcelona 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Oct 7, 2012 FC Barcelona 2 - Real Madrid CF 2
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Spain - Super Cup ‎(ESPS)‎ Aug 29, 2012 Real Madrid CF 2 - FC Barcelona 1
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Last Five Matches
Real Madrid CF
May 17, 2013Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2ESPC
May 11, 2013Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid CF 1LIGA
May 8, 2013Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2LIGA
May 4, 2013Real Madrid CF 4 - Valladolid 3LIGA
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
FC Barcelona
May 19, 2013FC Barcelona 2 - Valladolid 1LIGA
May 12, 2013Atletico Madrid 1 - FC Barcelona 2LIGA
May 5, 2013FC Barcelona 4 - Betis 2LIGA
May 1, 2013FC Barcelona 0 - FC Bayern München 3UCL
Apr 27, 2013Athletic Bilbao 2 - FC Barcelona 2LIGA
Odds
Returns: Real Madrid £30.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £90.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Barcelona £1510.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
13Diego López RodríguezGoalkeeper
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
3PepeDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
15Fabio CoentraoDefender
8KakáMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
16Luka ModricMidfielder
21CallejónStriker
9Karim BenzemaStriker
26MorataStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
2Ricardo CarvalhoDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
20Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
1Víctor ValdésGoalkeeper
2Daniel AlvesDefender
3PiquéDefender
18Jordi AlbaDefender
8Andrés Iniesta LujánMidfielder
11Thiago AlcántaraMidfielder
14Javier MascheranoMidfielder
16BusquetsMidfielder
7David VillaStriker
10Lionel MessiStriker
17PedroStriker
13José Pinto ColoradoGoalkeeper
5Carles PuyolDefender
21AdrianoDefender
4Cesc FàbregasMidfielder
25Alex SongMidfielder
9Alexis SánchezStriker
37TelloStriker
Players to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
34 34 9 0
The Portugal star was at his devastating best in midweek as he made short work of Barcelona's high defensive line with a virtuoso display of counter-attacking football. Ronaldo will look to extend his excellent run of form against Barcelona, against whom he has now scored nine times in his last eight appearances.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
32 46 1 0
Barcelona's leading scorer was again a peripheral figure in Tuesday's Clasico after a similarly ineffectual display in the Champions League loss at AC Milan. With Barca appearing uncharacteristically jaded and devoid of inspiration, they will look to Messi to lead a revival in fortunes ahead of the all-important return leg against Milan.
Prediction
Real Madrid's confidence will be sky-high after dispatching their arch-rivals with ease in the Copa del Rey, but this Liga clash is merely a distraction before the serious business of Tuesday's visit to Old Trafford. A blistering start to the season under Tito Vilanova promised so much for Barcelona, but they will need to buck up their ideas quickly to prevent their campaign from petering out.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 1
Barcelona 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		46 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		34 6
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atl. Madrid 		28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia 		21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla 		20 3