El Clasico Preview: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona prediction, team news, possible lineups – Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to face off in a highly anticipated match…

Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to face off in a highly anticipated match at Bernabeu. Real Madrid, currently leading the La Liga table, will be looking to extend their lead to 11 points over Barcelona.

After both teams faced Champions League quarter-final matches, Real Madrid advanced to the final four while Barcelona was eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid is aiming for a double win in La Liga and the Champions League this season, and a victory against Barcelona would bring them closer to securing the Spanish league title.

A victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in El Clasico would give them an 11-point lead with only six games remaining, making it highly unlikely for their rivals to stage a comeback.

On the other hand, a loss for Real Madrid would narrow the gap to just five points, reigniting the title race. Real Madrid has been the dominant force in La Liga this season, with an impressive record of 24 wins, six draws, and only one defeat from 31 matches, accumulating a total of 78 points.

They currently sit eight points ahead of second-placed Barcelona, while also boasting the highest number of goals scored (67) and the best defensive record (20). Ancelotti’s team continued their winning streak in the league with a 1-0 victory over Mallorca last weekend and followed it up with a triumph against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Real Madrid faced a tough challenge at the Etihad Stadium, conceding possession and opportunities. However, they managed to secure a 1-1 draw, resulting in a 4-4 aggregate score. As a result, penalties were needed to determine the winner, and the Spanish giants emerged victorious in the shootout. This victory sets them up for a semi-final clash against Bayern Munich.

In their upcoming match against Barcelona, Los Blancos will aim to secure a league double over their rivals this season. They previously achieved a 2-1 victory when the two teams met earlier in October.

Barcelona, on the other hand, had a different experience in Europe this week. They suffered a 4-1 defeat at home to PSG in the second leg of their quarter-final, resulting in a 6-4 loss overall.

Despite leading 3-2 after the first leg in Paris and being 4-2 ahead on aggregate, Ronald Araujo’s red card in the 29th minute of Tuesday’s clash changed the course of the match. The French champions capitalized on the advantage and scored four unanswered goals to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Barcelona’s primary focus will now shift towards the league, making this upcoming match a crucial one for the Catalan team if they wish to maintain their hold on the La Liga title this season.

Since the conclusion of January, the reigning champions have remained undefeated in the league, securing victory on eight occasions. Notably, they have emerged triumphant in their last four encounters against Mallorca, Atletico Madrid, Las Palmas, and Cadiz.

Despite ongoing speculation, Xavi intends to step down as head coach this summer, indicating significant changes on the horizon for the team in the upcoming season. Additionally, the club is expected to experience an intriguing transfer window, adding further excitement to their future endeavors.

Barcelona boasts the second-best away record in La Liga this season, having accumulated 33 points from 15 matches without a single defeat. However, they are set to face Real Madrid, who have also maintained an unbeaten record at Bernabeu in Spain’s top flight this season.

Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba are still sidelined for Real Madrid due to knee injuries, but the team is anticipated to receive a double fitness boost ahead of this upcoming match.

Despite Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior being substituted due to injuries in the previous game against Man City, both players are expected to be fit and ready to start the match on Sunday night.

Aurelien Tchouameni returns from a European suspension and may play in the center of the defense with Antonio Rudiger, while Jude Bellingham, who scored twice in the previous league match this season, is expected to support the front duo of Vinicius and Rodrygo.

Luka Modric is a possibility to add freshness to the midfield, although Eduardo Camavinga is likely to retain his position in the center alongside Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde.

Regarding Barcelona, Sergi Roberto and Andreas Christensen will both rejoin the squad following their absence in the PSG game due to suspensions.

Gavi and Alejandro Balde remain sidelined with long-term knee injuries, but apart from that, the Catalan team is in excellent condition. Araujo is also available for selection since his suspension only applies to European matches.

On Sunday, it is anticipated that Christensen will join the midfield, potentially allowing Pedri to play in a more advanced position alongside Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.

Following Araujo’s red card against PSG, Lamine Yamal was substituted early in the match, and now there is a possibility that the Spanish international will start on the bench for the beginning of El Clasico.

Here are the potential starting lineups for both Real Madrid and Barcelona:

Real Madrid:

Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Bellingham; Vinicius, Rodrygo

Barcelona:

Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Gundogan, Christensen, F de Jong; Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha.