Barcelona – Real Madrid

Barcelona and Real Madrid are unlikely to venture into open football

Sunday, March 19, is Europe's top match of the weekend. Barcelona take on Real Madrid at home. The Catalan club have a nine-point advantage over Madrid in the table. There is a chance to finish the La Liga title race handsomely. Twelve points in twelve rounds - a result that would certainly leave Madrid with no chance. Barcelona continue to surprise with lesser football. Xavi's team have already set a club record of 1-0 wins. Barcelona do not shy away from giving the ball to their opponents and playing second best. The current 1-0 winning streak stands at three matches. The coach has even been criticized for his boring football, but he is producing results, at least at the level of the Spanish championship. In the last round, Barcelona held out in Bilbao. An extremely difficult encounter ended with a controversial refereeing decision. Atletico's goal was canceled out in the end. Barcelona's defensive performance is becoming legendary. The Catalans rewrote the Spanish championship record by conceding eight goals in 25 meetings. Marc-André ter Stegen has conceded in only five La Liga games this season. It makes sense that, with such a game, Barcelona have an obvious trend towards the under total. More than three goals are rarely scored in matches involving the leader. Real have switched their main priority to the Champions League. The age-old club has failed to cope with playing on two fronts. But setting themselves up for individual battles in the Champions League is working out. Real Madrid beat Liverpool handsomely in the European Cup play-offs. The aggregate score of the encounter was 6-2. The English did not succeed in reviving the intrigue in Madrid on Wednesday. At the same time, the problem of a saturated calendar remains acute. Even older players are often injured and cannot play two matches in a row at a high level. That is, this week, the priority was clearly in the direction of the Champions League. Karim Benzema picked up another injury. It is possible that the Frenchman will again be spared. Of the other injured, Alaba's absence is noticeable. Barcelona are still unable to count on Pedri and Dembele. The odds for the match look adequate. A fresh Barcelona at home will surely have the advantage over the veteran Madrid players who have put in a lot of work in the Champions League. Plus Xavi is clearly outclassed by Carlo Ancelotti in head-to-head matches. This season, the head-to-head scoreline is 2-1, but the Catalans have taken both games in contention for the trophy. In the last match, Real Madrid did not score a single shot on target. Relatively cautious football is emerging. It is possible that Barcelona will again opt for a tactic of holding on to a minimal advantage.