Real Madrid vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips - Super Cup

Prediction published on 13/01/2023, 16:21  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 14/01/2023 at 00:34 in Football Predictions

Real Madrid and Barcelona will renew their rivalry in Saudi Arabia when they face off in the Spanish Super Cup final, both having advanced through post-match penalties. Real Madrid ended it 1-1 with Valencia in their semi final clash after Samuel Lino’s strike early in the second half canceled Karim Benzema’s first half penalty. The Spanish champions struggled through the game but had just enough to see off Valencia and it was a welcome result after having earlier lost to Villarreal in La Liga. Real Madrid have been shaky defensively and in the Valencia game it showed again; they have now managed just two clean sheets in 10 matches and both teams have scored in three of their last five. Three defeats in their last 10 matches will place Real Madrid as the underdogs in this game but to cope with Barcelona they will want to address their defensive issues. Real Madrid will be short in defence as they are without defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, and utility man David Alaba. It won’t make things easier with Eder Militao, Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Vazquez all picking injuries from the Valencia win.

Barcelona are the best defensively in La Liga, but they haven’t done so well in the cup games. Their performance in the semi final of this competition was one such example. They twice led through Robert Lewandowski and Ansu Fati goals but in both situations, they were pegged back, first by Nabil Fekir and then Leon Moron. In the end it was the second time in three matches that they conceded more than a goal. Both teams have scored in four of their last five matches with the Catalans managing just one clean sheet in the process. Three of their last five matches have produced over 2.5 goals. Seven red cards have been flashed in Barcelona’s last five matches, with Ferran Torres, Jordi Alba, Robert Lewandowski and now retired Gerard Pique the recipients on the Barcelona side. Barcelona have no injury concerns going into this game and with this they will hope to end the dominant run Real Madrid have had over them. Barcelona have four losses and one win in the last five meetings with Real Madrid.