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Barca without key players
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Vinicius Junior making and scoring goals
Real Madrid v Barcelona
Thursday 02 March, 20:00
Live on BT Sport 1
Marseille suffered a total disaster in the Coupe de France last night, and they took us down with them. L'OM lost on penalties at home to second-tier Annecy, despite the fact they had knocked out PSG in the previous round.
We'll take in a Clasico in Spain now, because Real Madrid are up against an injury-hit Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, and I'm backing the outstanding Vinicius Junior to make his mark.
Barcelona have beaten Real in the Spanish Super Cup final by three goals to one, but Real won by the same scoreline in the league at the Bernabeu. This time around, Barcelona are without star striker Robert Lewandowski and midfield maestro Pedri because of injury, and at the weekend they lost 1-0 at Almeria in La Liga. Immediately before that, Barca went down 2-1 at Manchester United as they were dumped out of the Europa League, and they have won just two of their last five competitive games.
Real recently thrashed Liverpool 5-2 at Anfield in the Champions League, and Brazilian winger Vinicius played a starring role. He has delivered seven league goals and four assists, with a further six goals and two assists in the Champions League. Considering the consistent racial abuse he receives, the consistency of the 22-year-old's displays is nothing short of remarkable. He has helped his side win five of their last six competitive matches, and Real have scored 21 goals along the way.
We can back Vinicius to score or assist on the Sportsbook at 11/10, and I think that's a decent price.