Kevin Hatchard European Tips: Madrid meltdown ahead of El Clasico

Barcelona v Real Madrid - Amidst the chaos, Vini can rise to the occasion

Sunday 10 May, 20:00
Live on Premier Sports

By the lofty standards of Real Madrid, this season has turned into a nightmare. For the second campaign running, Los Merengues are almost certainly going to end the season without a trophy, and it appears that coach Alvaro Arbeloa has completely lost control of his squad.

This week has featured controversy after controversy. Star striker Kylian Mbappe - nursing a hamstring injury - was permitted to go on a short break to Sardinia with his movie star girlfriend Ester Exposito. For some reason, that seems to have infuriated some Real Madrid fans, and a petition calling for him to be sold has attracted millions of signatures. Some Real Madrid fans allege that Mbappe is saving himself for France's World Cup bid.

There were allegations about Antonio Rudiger slapping full-back Alvaro Carreras, who has angrily denied claims that he has been giving less than his all in training because of a lack of game time. The latest debacle involves midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde, who clashed in training on Wednesday and locked horns again on Thursday, a scuffle that caused Valverde to slip and hit his head. The Uruguayan needed hospital treatment and will miss El Clasico, and both players are subject to disciplinary measures by the club.

Madrid started the season with Xabi Alonso at the helm, but ditched him a few months in after key players chafed under his detail-orientated rule. Arbeloa stepped up from the youth team, but has delivered little of note, crashing out of the Copa del Rey against lower-league Albacete and losing a thriller to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Now Madrid face the indignity of losing the title race at Camp Nou against the most bitter of rivals. The result of El Clasico hasn't directly secured a league title for 94 years, but if Barcelona avoid defeat on Sunday night, they will seal back-to-back La Liga crowns under the guidance of coach Hansi Flick.

The contrast between these Spanish giants couldn't currently be greater. German boss Flick is set to sign a contract extension, and Barcelona are confident they can soon resolve many of the short-term financial issues that have been restricting their ability to sign and register new players. The loan signing of Marcus Rashford has been a success, and even though Lamine Yamal is currently injured, the Spain star has further established himself as one of the greatest talents in world football.

Barcelona are rightly heavy favourites here. They have an 11-point lead over Madrid, and they have won all of their home matches in La Liga this season, which is a phenomenal achievement. However, instead of backing the home side I'm going for a goalscoerer double.

I'll back Fermin Lopez and Vinicius Junior to both score at 9/25.50 on the Sportsbook's Bet Builder. Fermin scored against Madrid in the reverse league fixture this season, and he has 13 goals in all competitions this term. Vinicius scored against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup this term, and he has hit a purple patch, scoring four goals across his last three appearances.

If either doesn't start, it becomes a 6/42.50 single.

I'll also back Jude Bellingham to have five foul involvements at 10/111.91. That has paid out in Bellingham's last two La Liga games and both of his competitive clashes with Barcelona this season.

PSG v Brest - Visitors can find the net

Sunday 10 May, 20:00
Live on Ligue 1 Pass

PSG deservedly reached the Champions League final in midweek, restricting one of the best attacks in world football to a solitary stoppage-time goal as Bayern Munich were held 1-1 at home and beaten 6-5 on aggregate. The French and European champions defended diligently and worked as a unit, a far cry from their galactico era when Mbappe, Messi and Neymar strolled around out of possession.

Now attention turns to sealing the Ligue 1 crown, with Luis Enrique's men six points clear of Lens going into the weekend (Lens play on Friday night). However, PSG put so much effort in on Wednesday that I suspect a talented Brest team can at least score on Sunday.

Eric Roy's team aren't finishing the season well, with just two points collected from the last six games, but they put three goals past title-chasing Lens recently. Brest also scored three against a good Rennes team, and they have found the net at least once in ten of their 16 away games in Ligue 1. Overall, Brest have scored in 15 of their last 20 top-flight outings.

A distracted PSG drew 2-2 with Lorient last time out, and I can see a similar scoreline here. I'll go for BTTS at evens.

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