Barcelona vs Real Madrid
To win the 2026 La Liga title in the El Clasico on your home turf – now that would be something. And that is exactly what champions-elect Barcelona plan to do when they host Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday evening.
The La Liga 2026 betting odds have long since acknowledged Hansi Flick’s Blaugrana as the 2026 winners. And even if they slip up against Los Blancos on Sunday, the celebrations in Catalonia will start soon enough. 11 points clear at the top of the Primera Division table with just four games to play, for Barca to miss out, they need to lose their last four games and Real Madrid to win all four of theirs. It isn’t going to happen.
Barcelona have lost four of their 34 league games so far this season and have won the last 10, a run dating back to mid-February, and Flick’s men have easily pulled away from the chasing pack led by Alvaro Arbeloa’s Real Madrid.
Last week, Barca’s title celebrations were delayed when Vinicius Junior scored twice in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Espanyol, 24 hours after Barcelona had beaten Osasuna to go 14 points clear, and now Arbeloa’s side will try to keep the Catalans waiting for another week. Good luck with that.
Talking points
No Yamal, but Raphinha will play some part
After Real Madrid were held to a draw by Real Betis two weeks ago, Barcelona’s win away to Getafe really put an end to any doubts over where the La Liga title was heading. And while Los Blancos delayed the inevitable last week, there will be a party mood at the Spotify Camp Nou Stadium this Sunday.
Teen star Lamine Yamal will be in the stands, sidelined through injury. But there may well be a return for another of Barca’s dazzling forwards, as Flick has indicated that Raphinha will start on the bench against Madrid and the manager plans to bring him on for the last 20 or 30 minutes.
“Injuries happen,” said the Barca boss. “Rapha always gives 100-per cent. It’s his mentality, his attitude. He helps us a lot, but he’s struggled this season. It’s important to have him back.”
That Barcelona have been so relentless without one of their best players is testament to the depth of squad at Flick’s disposal, and the manager can choose from Roony Bardghji or Marcus Rashford to join Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres in the frontline.
Los Blancos in chaos
While Barcelona’s La Liga 2026 results have been pretty much flawless, Los Blancos have stumbled from one disaster to the next, at home and in Europe, and it seems that things are falling apart at the Santiago Bernabeu. Chief Galactico Kylian Mbappe has been in the spotlight this week, facing a barrage of criticism for taking a trip to Sardinia with his companion Ester Exposito in the run up to El Clasico.
The France star is recovering from a hamstring injury, but fans are furious, claiming his jaunt shows a lack of commitment to the club and a staggering 18,000 have signed a petition demanding that the club transfers Mbappe out.
Now that petition may be an overreaction, but I’m not a Real Madrid fan, and it is abundantly clear the fans are justifiably unhappy, as are too many of the players. Reports from Madrid suggest that up to six senior stars have cut contact with the manager, while others have been fighting each other.
Wing-back Alvaro Carreras admitted he and Antonio Rudiger came to blows this week, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde have been at each other as well. If they can channel their aggression against the Blaugrana, then Madrid may have a chance.
History
The Blaugrana have won 35 of the last 73 El Clasicos, while Real Madrid have won 26, and there have been 12 draws. However, Los Blancos have enjoyed plenty of success in Catalonia, with 12 wins and nine draws from 35, with Barca winning the other 14.
Barcelona have won five of the last six meetings, losing 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in October as Jude Bellingham and Mbappe scored for Los Blancos. That seems a long time ago now.
Barcelona have won five and lost one of their last six games in all competitions, the defeat coming to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, while Los Blancos have won two, drawn two, and lost two.
Betting Tip
With Los Blancos at SBOTOP odds of 3.80 to win and the Draw at 4.20, this is not a done deal. But momentum and morale is everything in a situation like this, and Barcelona have both, while their visitors have neither.
Last week, I said that Real Madrid’s clash with Espanyol was their best chance of beating a team from Barcelona, and I haven’t changed my mind.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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