What a game: El Clasico in the Spanish Super Cup! Real Madrid will face Barcelona today, 14 January.
The semi-final clashes that saw Los Blancos and the Catalans qualify for the final were very different.
Madrid were struggling to score the winner until the second extra-time while Barca didn't have much problem against Osasuna beating them 2-0. The fact that they didn't have to try as hard as Real Madrid doesn't make Barcelona the favourites for the final though.
Xavi's team are having a hard time in La Liga. Besides, in Copa del Rey, they managed to concede twice (!) against fourth-tier side Barbastro.
Los Blancos, on the contrary, are doing really well. In La Liga, they are joint-top with Girona. Jude Bellingham isn't scoring as much as at the beginning of the season but the players who had been in his shadow, are now under the lights: Brahim Diaz has three goals and one assist in last five games, Joselu has four strikes in last six games.
Los Blancos' defence copes well without Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba who are injured.
However, sometimes El Clasico defies logic.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Betting odds
Here is how bookies rate Madrid's and Barca's chances to win:
Madrid to win at FT: 2.31
Draw at FT: 3.62
Barca to win at FT: 3.16
Madrid to win in ET or on penalties: 1.71
Barca to win in ET or on penalties: 2.24
Goals total over 2.5: 1.77
Goals total under 2.5: 2.15
Both teams score - yes: 1.58
Both teams score - no: 2.23
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Head-to-head
The biggest rivalry in Spain is perhaps the closest one in Europe. With 254 games between the sides, Madrid have 103 wins while Barca celebrated 99 times. 52 games ended in a draw.
The goal difference also favours Madrid: 425 vs 413.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Probable line-ups
Real: Kepa - Carvajal, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Mendy - Kroos, Modric, Valverde - Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr
Barcelona: Pena - Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde - Gundogan, Roberto, De Jong - Yamal, Torres, Lewandowski
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Prediction
The two teams know each other extremely well, hence they are likely to play more cautiously than usual. Can't expect goals galore in this one.
