It's the Clasico that eclipses all else outside of Camp Nou in this weekend's action but punters won't simply be casting an eye over one game, and it's worth casting some light over some potential juicy away wins, especially in France and Germany.
LIKELY BETS
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: HOME WIN @1.65
It's been a long time since Barcelona were such strong favourites in this one. That's not only a reflection of the odds, but also the overall situation, including recent form, the psychological battle and the mood within the changing rooms. It's probably not since the last game of Pellegrini's reign at Real Madrid, just before the Mourinho era started, that the odds are stacked in Barca's favour.
It's no coincidence that this trend - returning the Blaugrana to the top of Liga - is happening while we are seeing the best form of Lionel Messi of the last 4 years. Unselfish, consistent and lethal at the same time, more so then any season since the last time Barcelona won the Champions League. This momentum wrapping up Camp Nou could be the climax to prove just how far Real Madrid have fallen.
All of this doesn't mean that the Merengues are traveling to Catalunya to merely be sparring partners, but surely nobody could expect that the disappointment within the club, the team and the fans would reach a point at which Cristiano Ronaldo would insult the fans for insulting the players. It's true true that Ancelotti is not considered a magician for no reason, but a wizard can only perform tricks, while it's a God that is needed to provide a miracle - or an Argentinian god. Consider that in their last 18 games in all competitions, Barcelona have picked up 17 wins and 1 defeat, while Real Madrid have managed 11 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats.
The only debate for Barcelona is whether to move Mascherano back to the defence in place of Mathieu, and for Real Madrid whether to go with Varane or Pepe. Needless to say, so much of Madrid's hopes will be dependant on Cristiano performance and whether he can make the most of a mismatch with Dani Alves, while on the other side it's not only Leo but Neymar who can stretch Real Madrid's defence, and whose movement and pace could be too much for Carvajal. Scouring the WhoScored data, the key could lie in a characteristic of Madrid's for which they are deemed 'very weak', which is 'stopping opponents from creating chances'.
Newcastle vs Arsenal: AWAY WIN @1.61
Wenger could and has been blamed for many things, but surely not for Arsenal's consistency when it comes to securing a Champions League berth, and Newcastle's bad form clashes perfectly with the Gunners' 5 league wins in a row.
Udinese vs Fiorentina: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @1.91
It will be very hard for Fiorentina to keep up the same levels of performance with such a small squad and still active on 3 competitive fronts. They never give up, but an Udinese side desperate for points will see this game as the perfect chance to make the most of Di Natale's ever-unstoppable skills on the counter.
TEMPTING BETS
Parma vs Torino: AWAY WIN @1.91
Torino might have given their all in a demanding return leg against Zenit on Thursday, but things are chaotic at Parma to say the least. They are in administration with players that facing uncertain futures and they are in disarray.
Elche vs Valencia: AWAY WIN @1.91
Great odds on this game, particularly considering it pits the side in the best form in La Liga and who just moved into third place against one trapped in a race to avoid relegation.
Stoke City vs Crystal Palace: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @2.10
It is something of a guarantee to go with this kind of bet when Crystal Palace is involved. There are a total of 8 weaknesses across the two teams as highlighted by the WhoScored database, and each of them relate to defending, so that could mean goals galore.
LONG-SHOT BETS
Bayern Munich vs Borussia M.Gladbach: DRAW HALF TIME @2.87
Bayern should win this in the end, but don't underestimate the ability of a very impressive and tactically sound opponent coming to Munich this weekend. They have held Bayern once already this season, and haven't been trailing at half time in any of their last 8 games in all competitions. There are countless dangers for the visitors, and watch out for Thomas Mueller exploiting the space in between the lines, while Max Kruse will hopes that Badstuber might be a weakness at the other end.
Freiburg vs Augsburg: AWAY WIN @2.50
Some amazing odds again on an away win made all the more possible by Freiburg's mediocrity than their opponents' capabilities. Freiburg have won only 1 of their last 6 home games, while Augsburg have won 3 of their last 6 away games.
Toulouse vs Bordeaux: AWAY WIN @2.90
Bordeaux are a good side that hold the longest undefeated record in France, having gone 8 game without defeat, and here they take on third-from-bottom Toulouse, who are falling away with only 2 wins from their last 13.
What are your top tips for the weekend? Let us know in the comments below
