On Sunday, 26 October, Real Madrid will play against Barcelona. Both teams are predictably vying for the title. They are currently going almost unscathed in La Liga and are looking strong in the Champions League. The match could have a decisive impact on the first part of the season.

Real Madrid has won eight out of nine matches in the league. The only slip-up occurred in the away match against Atletico. In the Madrid derby, Real conceded five goals – a nightmarish result, yet the quality of their play was not that poor. Real confirmed their level in subsequent matches: four consecutive victories with a combined score of 10:2.

Importantly, Xabi Alonso has no issues in matches against mid-table and lower-ranked teams away from home. A classic example is the match against Getafe in the previous round. The Madrid team scraped a 1-0 win on the road.

A negative statistical event for Real is the end of Kylian Mbappe's incredible scoring streak. The Frenchman had scored in every match since August, but was unable to find the net against Juventus. However, this did not affect the result – they won against the Turin side.

Real has a dilemma regarding their lineup: Xabi Alonso is pondering whom to place on the right flank in attack. Federico Valverde will have to play in defence due to the injuries of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal. The veteran may come on, but according to Spanish media, the probability is low. Therefore, a more cautious formation with Eduardo Camavinga in the starting lineup is being considered.

Barcelona has far more problems with injured players. The main loss is the absence of Robert Lewandowski. In addition to the Pole, Raphinha and Dani Olmo will definitely be out. The status of key defender Jules Kounde is in question. In this situation, Marcus Rashford will get a chance to shine in a big match. The positive news is the return of Lamine Yamal. The talent has already scored a goal against Olympiacos in the Champions League. In midfield, we will likely see Fermín López – the author of a double in the European cup.

Barcelona has not always coped with challenges this season. They previously suffered a heavy defeat to a revitalised Sevilla – 1:4. In the Champions League, they also experienced a home loss to PSG (1:2).

At the same time, Real looks overrated in betting lines. Xabi Alonso's team has not convinced in big matches. They lost to PSG in the Club World Cup and have already been thrashed by Atletico in the league. The match against Juventus also proved very challenging. This means the coach's system is currently vulnerable against the giants. Plus, Barcelona will easily punish Real on quick attacks. A high-scoring game appears likely. The odds of 3.40 on Barcelona are definitely too high.