Sundays don’t come more super than this one!
Sunday afternoon ought to produce some fireworks with the ultimate double-bill. Real Madrid and Barcelona etch a new chapter into Clásico folklore before the top two teams from the Premier League last season, Liverpool and Manchester City meet at Anfield.
– Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Real and Barca go head-to-head for the 185th time in LaLiga history and a 250th clash overall between the Clásico rivals. It’s certain to be a feisty affair with the clubs separated by fine margins ahead of this eagerly anticipated grudge match. Barca are top of the table with a superior goal difference, level with Real on 22 points.
Los Blancos will be looking to avoid a repeat of their previous encounter with the old enemy back in March, when the Catalans run out 4-0 winners at the Bernabéu. Barca went without a Clásico defeat for three years until the end of 2019, but since the turn of decade Real has won all but one of six league derbies versus La Blaugrana.
This season Real and Barca have each taken seven wins and a draw from their opening eight, with either club yet to be on the losing side domestically. Xavi’s side has been dominant on the defensive front, conceding just once in 12 hours of league action with Marc-Andre ter Stegen keeping seven clean sheets.
Robert Lewandowski has been directly involved in more than half the 20 goals scored by Barca. The Poland attacker has scored nine goals – three more than any other player in LaLiga – and given two assists. With Lewandowski and Karim Benzema at opposite ends of the pitch, there are goals guaranteed and these may prove the most exciting and high-profile focal points in El Clásico since Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
El Clásico: A match charged with history. pic.twitter.com/fUL48rl6qL
— LaLigaTV (@LaLigaTV) October 16, 2022
Both Clásico contingents were held midweek in the Champions League as Real salvaged a draw late on at Shakhtar Donetsk, and Barca played out a captivating 3-3 stalemate with Inter Milan. The Champions League holders are on course to top Group F, whilst Los Cules are at risk of dropping to the Europa League for a second straight season.
There will be a host of young talents on display, with the likes of Vinicius Junior, Aurélien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Ansu Fati, Pedri, and Gavi all likely to feature in football’s greatest rivalry on Sunday.
Barca defender Jules Koundé is back after missing four games across two competitions and the Frenchman returns at a crucial time following the goal-fest with Inter. Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, and Hector Bellerín are still ruled out, as is Memphis Depay.
Thibaut Courtois has not played since the Madrid derby on September 18 and the keeper remains sidelined for the greatest fixture on Real’s calendar. In the outfield Carlo Ancelotti is at full strength minus Dani Ceballos.
Bet365 has Real Madrid at 2.25 to win, Barcelona 2.90 to win, 3.60 for a draw; Total goals over 3,5 (2.37).
Karim Benzema first scorer (4.50) or anytime scorer (2.05); Robert Lewandowski first scorer (5.00) or anytime scorer (2.25); Vinicius Junior first scorer (6.50) or anytime scorer (2.75)
Kick-off at the Santiago Bernabéu is from 16H15 CET.
– Liverpool vs Man City
Meanwhile over in the Premier League, it’s another battle between two juggernauts as reigning champions Man City pay a visit to their greatest challengers from these past years. It doesn’t make for good reading from a Liverpool perspective and the recent form guide suggests a straightforward victory for Pep Guardiola and his troops.
These teams finished top two in three of the past four Premier League campaigns, although this time out only one is making strides towards the head of the table. The Reds occupy 10th place having taken two wins from eight games, whilst City trail league leaders Arsenal by a single point.
City is the only remaining team yet to taste defeat this season. Guardiola’s men have scored a league-high 33 goals, with Erling Haaland notching 15 of those, and conceded nine times. Haaland was rested during the Citizens’ trip to Copenhagen and the 22-year-old will be raring to go against a vulnerable Liverpool outfit.
Kevin De Bruyne has registered 9 assists this term – more than double anyone else in the league – and he recently climbed into the top five for most assists in PL history, with 95 to his name. The Belgium playmaker created six goals in his team’s last four matches and in that time he has eclipsed the tallies of ex-Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard (92), former teammate David Silva (93), and Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp (94).
At stake on Sunday is Liverpool’s streak of 27 league games unbeaten at Anfield. They last lost to Fulham in March 2021 which curbed a run of six home defeats on the bounce, albeit all of those came behind closed doors. Prior to that brief spell the Merseysiders embarked on a 68-game run undefeated in the league at home.
Klopp has won three and lost one of six league meetings with Guardiola at Anfield although Liverpool have one victory from the last eight PL clashes against Man City. Last season they couldn’t be separated, playing out two 2-2 draws, but this time around it may yet be far more one-sided.
City scored first in all but one of its nine league outings in 2022/23, meanwhile Liverpool has opened the scoring just once in eight matches.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
This season Jurgen Klopp’s star players in recent years, particularly Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have been shadows of their former selves and they ought to rediscover their form for the visit of the best team in the land. Liverpool thrashed Rangers, 7-1, midweek in the Champions League as Salah grabbed a quick-fire hat-trick which will do the Egyptian a world of good and could spark a return to his lethal best.
Another who hasn’t been at his best is Trent Alexander-Arnold and he misses the City game with an ankle issue. Luis Diaz picked up a knee injury last week as his side succumbed to Arsenal, and the Colombia international is expected to return towards the new year. Also unavailable for Klopp are Joel Matip, Naby Keïta, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while it was reported on Saturday that Ibrahima Konaté faces a late fitness test.
Guardiola will be without three players, all England internationals, in Kyle Walker (groin), John Stones (hamstring), and Kalvin Phillips (shoulder).
Bet365 has Liverpool at 3.60 to win, Man City 1.90 to win, 4.00 for a draw. Total goals over 3,5 (2.10).
Erling Haaland first scorer (3.75) or anytime scorer (1.72). Mohamed Salah first scorer (7.00) or anytime scorer (2.75). Phil Foden first scorer (11.00) or anytime scorer (4.00).
Kick-off at Anfield is from 17H30 CET.
