Barcelona have the upper hand and are playing at home, but Real Madrid certainly won't let up when the rivals meet Wednesday in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. It's the fifth edition of El Clasico this season, and Barcelona won three of the first four. That includes a 1-0 triumph in the first leg at the Bernabeu on March 2. An aggregate win Wednesday would see Barcelona play for a 32nd Copa del Rey title. The Blaugrana have reached the final in seven of the past nine seasons. Real Madrid have won 19 Copa del Rey titles but haven't played for the title since 2014. Barcelona lead La Liga by 12 points over second-place Real Madrid, the defending champion after winning their 35th title last season.
Kickoff in Barcelona, Spain is set for 3 p.m. ET. Barcelona are +135 favorites (risk $100 to win $135) on the 90-minute money line in the latest Barcelona vs Real Madrid odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Real Madrid are +185 underdogs. A 90-minute draw is priced at +230 and the over/under for total goals is 2.5. Before you make any Real Madrid vs. Barcelona picks, you need to see the Copa del Rey predictions from proven soccer insider Martin Green.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Green is 67-73-1 (+3.02 units) on his SportsLine soccer picks in 2023.
Now, Green has broken down the Barcelona vs Real Madrid matchup from every angle. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Real Madrid vs. Barcelona:
- Barcelona vs Real Madrid spread: Barcelona -0.5 (+127)
- Barcelona vs Real Madrid over/under: 2.5 goals
- Barcelona vs Real Madrid money line: Barcelona +135, Real Madrid +185, Draw +230
- BAR: Barca have outscored their past nine home opponents 15-4.
- RM: Los Blancos have a 28-12 goal advantage over 12 cup matches.
- Barcelona vs. Real Madrid picks: See picks here
Why you should back Barcelona
The Blaugrana have been nearly impossible to beat at home and have won three straight meetings, by a combined score of 6-2. Their only loss at Camp Nou since last August was a 3-0 Champions League group-stage loss to Bayern Munich in October. They are 11-2-0 with a 27-2 goal advantage in league matches at home this season. Barca's defense has been a big part of their success, as they have yielded just nine goals in 27 league matches. Marc-Andre ter Stegen has 20 clean sheets, nine more than any other La Liga goalkeeper.
The addition of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha during a massive summer spending spree transformed the club. Lewandowski has 27 goals in 34 matches in all competitions, and he scored twice in a 4-0 victory against Elche on Sunday to give him the La Liga lead with 17. Raphinha has nine goals and eight assists in all competitions, and Ansu Fati (seven goals) and Ferran Torres (six) also are dangerous weapons up front.
Why you should back Real Madrid
Karim Benzema comes in on fire after scoring a hat trick Sunday in a 6-0 thrashing of Valladolid. He missed some time with an injury around the World Cup but has 21 goals in 29 matches in all competitions this season. Vinicius Junior can score or set Benzema up, as he has 16 goals and 11 assists in 40 games. The respected Real Madrid midfield also remains intact, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos set to hold the ball but keep it moving. Los Blancos held 65% possession in the first leg, allowing just four total shots and losing on an own-goal.
Rodrygo has 10 goals and nine assists in all competitions, and Federico Valverde has scored nine times, so Real have the firepower to unlock the stingy Barcelona back line. Benzema, Valverde and Rodrygo all scored in Real Madrid's last victory against Barca, a 3-1 home triumph in October.
How to make Real Madrid vs. Barcelona picks
Green has scrutinized the Real Madrid vs. Barcelona match from every angle, and he is backing the Over on the goal total. He provides two other confident best bets, including a strong pick on one side to win, and his full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing those picks here.
So who wins Barcelona vs. Real Madrid on Wednesday? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see which wagers in Real Madrid vs. Barcelona have all the value, all from the European soccer expert who knows the sport inside and out.
