The final Clasico of the season could be decisive in the race for the La Liga title, with Real Madrid targeting the win that would virtually seal their first championship crown since 2012. A 3-2 victory over Sporting Gijon last time out maintained Zinedine Zidane's side's three-point margin at the summit of the standings, with Isco's 90th-minute winner ensuring that Madrid remain odds-on favourites to finish on top of the pile. Los Blancos have not been entirely convincing at times this term, yet their ability to grind out results even when they are operating far below their optimum level of performance is hugely impressive. Given that they have also played one fewer game than Barcelona, there is a good chance that Madrid will go on to win the title regardless of the outcome of Sunday's showdown in the capital. The defending champions, then, are hardly in ideal shape heading into this must-win encounter.
Barcelona were also victorious last weekend, with Real Sociedad beaten by three goals to two at the Camp Nou. That scoreline, though, does not tell the full story of a match in which the Catalan club were at times hanging on; Barca proved incapable of holding possession in the second period and could easily have been defeated had their opponents been a little sharper inside the penalty area. Lionel Messi is relied upon for flashes of brilliance more than ever before, while the absence of Neymar through suspension means Luis Enrique will be without a player who is capable of taking some of the load off the Argentine's shoulders.
Madrid will have to make do without Pepe (rib), while Raphael Varane (thigh) and Gareth Bale (calf) are battling to recover from their respective ailments in time. Casemiro will be an important figure behind Toni Kroos and Luka Modric at the base of midfield, while Isco could deputise for Bale alongside Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo in the front three.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will be unable to call upon the services of Rafinha (knee), Aleix Vidal (ankle) and Neymar (suspension), while Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano have both been struggling with injuries of their own. Luis Enrique will probably persist with the 3-4-3 formation he has been using of late, with a diamond setup in midfield.
Taking everything into account, it is probably worth putting some money on a Real Madrid success on Sunday evening. Zidane's men will be confident of exposing their rivals' defensive frailties, and despite their considerable individual talent towards the top of the pitch, Barcelona could struggle to control the game in the manner they have been accustomed to in recent years. A Madrid win with both teams to find the back of the net could therefore be the way to go here, while Sergio Ramos' aerial prowess from set-pieces makes him a good value choice in the anytime goalscorer market.
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