Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to renew their El Clasico battle on Thursday when La Liga’s top two teams meet in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.
The Santiago Bernabeu will be bouncing for the first of three El Clasicos in just over a month as the second leg of this tie, on the 5th April, falls two weeks after the teams meet at the Camp Nou in a pivotal league match. Barcelona are currently leading La Liga by seven points, but they failed to take advantage of Real drawing in the Madrid Derby on Saturday when they went down to lowly Almeria on Sunday.
At SBOTOP odds of 2.65 the Blaugrana are favourites to win the Copa but Los Blancos are not far adrift at 2.95. So with Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna contesting the other semi-final the Copa del Rey 2023 betting odds reckon the winner will come from this pair.
If anything, the momentum is with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid while his opposite number, Xavi, continues to face injury problems.
Talking Points
Los Blancos have Real focus
Since the return to fitness of Karim Benzema Real Madrid have begun to look like a team which can challenge for trophies on multiple fronts and, with impressive form in recent weeks, there is a feeling in Madrid that they can give Barcelona plenty to worry about in the league and, more immediately, in the Copa del Rey. Over the past two weeks Los Blancos have recorded league wins over Elche and Osasuna (4-0 and 2-0) and destroyed Liverpool 5-2 in a Champions League tie at Anfield. Their Derby draw with Atleti was frustrating for sure but, with 18 shots to seven and seven to one on target Los Blancos were all over their neighbours and will feel unlucky to have been held.
Benzema and keeper Thibaut Courtois, along with boss Ancelotti, have been shortlisted at the Best FIFA Football Awards to be held in Paris on Monday night but the trio have decided to skip the event in order to concentrate on this upcoming El Clasico date. It has been reported in the Spanish press that the club feels it is not appropriate to attend a gala event in the midst of a crucial part of the season and just after they drew a home match.
The Copa del Rey 2023 highlights will show just how determined Los Blancos are to get at the Blaugrana, and we may get another sight of Real’s new wonderkid Alvaro Rodriguez who scored their derby leveller. There’s plenty for Madrid fans to look forward to.
Lewi very doubtful
Losing 1-0 away to Almeria was a bad and unexpected result for the Blaugrana, made worse by the fact that it followed a Europa League exit at the hands of Manchester United on the previous Thursday. Xavi’s team travelled to Old Trafford short on numbers with midfield duo Gavi and Pedri missing as well as wing wizard Ousmane Dembele and, ultimately the fringe players fell a little short.
And the news seems to be getting worse at the Camp Nou following the announcement that league top scorer Robert Lewandowski picked up an injury during the defeat to Almeria. The Polish goal machine is undergoing more tests at the club but early reports suggest he will be out for two weeks, which means he will probably miss Barcelona’s upcoming league games against Valencia and Athletic Bilbao and, almost certainly, this Copa first leg.
Ancelotti will keep his cards close to his chest but if Lewi is out as expected then the return to fitness of Ansu Fati could be timely, to bolster a front line which has only Ferran Torres and Raphinha currently fit.
History
Barcelona love this competition. They have won 31 Copa del Reys in total, including five of the last eight, while Los Blancos have won 19, the last time in 2014.
In all El Clasicos since 1994 the Catalans are ahead by 35 victories to 25; and the two teams have already met twice this season, Los Blancos winning their home league game 3-1 before Barca won the Supercup final in January by the same margin.
Los Blancos are unbeaten in six games and in 19 at the Santiago Bernabeu, while Barcelona’s two recent defeats followed a run of 18 games unbeaten, 15 wins and three draws.
Betting Tip
Barca are at 1.84 to advance to the final while Los Blancos are priced at 2.02 and at 2.03 to win this first leg. The visitors are priced at 3.06 to leave Madrid with a lead and at 3.25 to draw.
Los Blancos have a chance to exploit Barca’s depleted squad but Xavi will be determined to avoid three consecutive defeats.
A 1-1 draw at odds of 5.80 is the most likely score line and that would suit the Barca boss just fine.
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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