Real Madrid and Barcelona face off for the second time this week as focus switches back to the race for the La Liga crown at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening.

The two teams come into the game off the back of a prior meeting in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday evening. Barcelona ran out comfortable winners at the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening as a brace from Luis Suarez and an own goal from Raphael Varane saw the visitors reach the final of the competition. Los Blancos also lost heavily on the last occasion the two met in La Liga with a 5-1 thumping at the Camp Nou.

Ernesto Valverde’s men are at odds of 7/5 with Paddy Power to chalk up another win, whilst Real are available at a price of 13/8. A draw, meanwhile, is at 13/5. Considering the past meetings between the two sides so far this season, Barcelona to score at least three goals could be a clever punt at odds of 27/10 with Coral.

Should the reigning league champions earn yet another victory, it will put them in prime position to lift the La Liga crown for the second year in a row. At the time of writing, they sit seven points clear of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid and nine points clear of this weekend’s opponents Real Madrid. They are odds on to win the league at a price of 1/14 with BetVictor, whilst Real are much further behind at 10/1.

One man that Santiago Solari’s troops will have to keep a close eye on is Barcelona forward Luis Suarez. He comes into his game with a stunning record against Los Blancos. Following his double in mid-week, he has now had a hand in 16 goals in his last 14 games against Real with 11 strikes and five assists. The Uruguayan is at 4/1 with Betfair to once again net the opening goal. Meanwhile, Real top scorer Karim Benzema is also one of the favourites to score first at odds of als0 4/1.

Despite Suarez’s excellent Clasico record, key midfielder Arthur remains ruled out for Barcelona with a hamstring injury but could return early next week. He is joined on the sidelines by long-term absentees Thomas Vermaelen, Jasper Cillessen and Rafinha.

Elsewhere, Solari is without suspended defender Nacho after he was sent off for two bookable offences in their last league game against Leganes. The match will also come too soon for midfielder Marcos Llorente who is still out with a hamstring injury.