Barcelona vs Real Madrid Predictions & Match Preview

Barcelona vs Real Madrid predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey Semi-Final 2nd Leg. Read on for analysis ahead of the big Clasico showdown at Camp Nou.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid Preview

Barcelona and Real Madrid meet for the third Clasico in the space of just five weeks and the final one of the 2022/23 season. Barcelona are the favourites to progress into the Copa del Rey Final after winning the 1st Leg of this tie 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to Eder Militao’s own goal.

The Catalans only had 4 attempts and just 35% possession in that game as they claimed a very un-Barça-like victory. The manner of that display inevitably stirred up plenty of debate but they produced a more convincing showing in the recent 2-1 win over Real Madrid in LaLiga which effectively killed off the title race and they hit four at the weekend past hapless Elche.

There was a brace for Robert Lewandowski in that game and Xavi will be hoping it signals a return to form for the Polish striker who has not been on top of his game since the World Cup. Barcelona will be eyeing up a very possible domestic treble now having also beaten Los Blancos in the Supercopa Final earlier in 2023. Despite European failure again, that would have to go down as a successful season and an impressive first step on the road back to being a team capable of competing with the very best sides in the continent.

Real Madrid are already there when it comes to being a force in the Champions League, yet they’ll be on course for a season without any domestic silverware should they fail to come back here. The Copa del Rey has never truly defined Real Madrid but they’ll be conscious of the need to halt a three game losing streak against their eternal rivals and they served a reminder of just how dangerous they can be with a 6-0 demolition of Real Valladolid at the weekend.

Karim Benzema fired in a 7 minute hat-trick with Real Madrid ultimately able to leave the rested Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal and Fede Valverde on the bench. The trio should return to the starting XI here with David Alaba likely to be the only notable absentee for the visitors. They’ll be hoping for an early goal to blow this tie wide open and set up what could be a cracking 2nd Leg.

Score Prediction: Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid (Aggregate: 3-2)

If recent Clasicos have been somewhat underwhelming affairs, big weekend performances from both sides and particularly the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema suggest we could be in store for something a bit more exciting here. Real Madrid have to go for it and that should open things up and it’s hard to see Barcelona playing as cautiously in front of their own fans as they did in the 1st Leg. An open game and several goals could be the outcome, but Barcelona ought to progress into the Final having won the 1st Leg away.

PLEASE NOTE – Our Copa del Rey predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.