Real Madrid vs. Barcelona Betting Preview and Pick
By: Phil Kitromilides
Goal.com
It's that time again -- the footballing world will once more focus its eyes on the Spanish capital for the biggest game on the planet. The first Clasico of the season sees Barcelona travel to Santiago Bernabeu, aiming to extend their lead over Real Madrid to seven points in La Liga (Saturday, 11:50 a.m. ET, beIn Sports).
Yet los Blancos have been in supreme form in recent weeks, notching eight successive wins in all competitions and scoring 35 goals in the process. During the same period the Blaugrana have managed six wins, a draw and their only defeat of the season against Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 22 goals, and they could hand a competitive debut to summer signing Luis Suarez in Saturday's clash.
Madrid have certainly been in more eye-catching form and at home they are rightly favorites, priced at +130 at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas, while Barca can be backed at +170 and the draw is offered at +250.
Generally, Clasicos tend to see plenty of goals scored, which is unsurprising given the array of attacking talent on display, but that often makes totals somewhat prohibitive for betting purposes.
OVER 2.5 goals has paid out in 14 of the last 15 meetings between these two sides and is offered at about -210, while the 'both teams to score' prop (which can be found outside of Las Vegas) is an even more regular winner in this fixture, paying out in each of the last 16 Clasicos, and is available at around -225.
The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook's posted total is 3 goals (OVER -125). The shop offers Real Madrid as a pick 'em on the goal-line for -140, with Barca the +120 dog.
However, the smart money should go on a home win, with Madrid looking extremely difficult to halt. Cristiano Ronaldo cannot stop scoring, the midfield duo of Modric and Kroos offers the side great balance, while at the back the team look infinitely more solid and have kept clean sheets in four out of their last five games. It is true that Barca are yet to concede a league goal this season, yet that extraordinary record will likely end on Saturday, and the +130 odds for an in-form Real Madrid at home is too good to turn down, irrespective of the opposition, and it should be backed accordingly.
Goal.com best bet: Real Madrid to win at +130