TWO of the most famous derbies in world football will take centre stage this weekend as defending La Liga champions Barcelona host rivals Real Madrid in another El Clasico. Then on Sunday, Manchester United will host last season’s treble winners and noisy neighbours Manchester City in a mouth-watering showdown at the theatre of dreams.

Event # 1 – SPA – Barcelona vs Liverpool – 9:15 am

The first El Clasico of the La Liga season will take place this Saturday, October 28 when Barcelona host Real Madrid at Nou Camp.

Besides the historic rivalry between both sides, this match also bears huge importance to the title race as Real Madrid are currently atop the standing with 25 points and Barcelona is just behind in third on 24 points. Indeed, even though El Clasico has lost most of its sparkle with the departure of Messi and Ronaldo, it is still one of the biggest games on the football calendar, no matter who plays, and remains a must-watch game for most football fans worldwide. Barcelona enter this game off the back of a 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League in midweek and will be high on confidence heading into this weekend, as they will be aiming to preserve their unbeaten start to the new campaign.

Like Barcelona, Real Madrid head into El Clasico off the back of a 2-1 over Braga in midweek champions League action, with the red-hot Jude Bellingham hitting the winner for the “Whites”. After losing to city rivals Atletico Madrid last month, Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last four La Liga games, which included three wins and a 1-1 draw away to Sevilla last weekend. Indeed, Real Madrid have been the more dominant team in the recent El Clasico matchups, defeating Barcelona 4-0 in their recent Copa del Rey semi-final second leg and winning three of the last four away games against Barcelona.

Key Stats

• Barcelona – Barcelona are the only unbeaten team left in La Liga but they trail Real Madrid following three unlikely draws, 0-0 at Getafe, 2-2 at Mallorca, and 2-2 at Granada.

• Real Madrid – Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions.

• Both sides – Barcelona have kept 8 clean sheets in their last 10 home matches and have scored 2 or more goals in 7 of their last 10 matches. However, the last time Real Madrid visited Barcelona, they won 4-0 and they have won 6 of the last 10 meetings between both sides.

The betting tip: Real Madrid win.

Event # 2 EPL – Man United vs Man City – 10:30 am

The stage is set for another blockbuster clash at Old Trafford this Sunday as Manchester rivals United and City square off in the latest instalment of the Manchester derby. Manchester United will head into this marquee clash with momentum after winning each of their last three matches in all competitions — a pair of 2-1 wins over Brentford and Sheffield United in the Premier League which were followed up with a 1-0 home win over Copenhagen in midweek Champions League action. With that said the Red Devils (Manchester United) will enter the derby with confidence sky-high as the last time they hosted City at Old Trafford they stunned them 2-1, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scoring the goals. Manchester United have a good record in recent derbies, winning five of the last 12 such games in all competitions.

Defending treble winners Manchester City suffered back-to-back league losses to Wolves and Arsenal before the international break but returned to winning ways last weekend by beating Brighton 2-1. While Manchester United hold a historical head-to-head advantage over their city rivals it’s Manchester City who have dominated in more recent times. In fact, their 2-1 loss at Old Trafford in January marked just the second derby defeat in all competitions since 2020, while they have only lost twice at Old Trafford in eight trips since October 2016. This derby is intriguingly poised, as last season City smashed United 6-3 at the Etihad but United gained a measure of revenge by beating them 2-1 when they visited Old Trafford. City also beat United in the FA Cup final to secure the treble, thus joining their more illustrious neighbours as the only two English sides that have achieved that feat.

Key Stats

• Man United – Manchester United have won their last two Premier League matches, having lost four of the previous six.

• Man City – Manchester City ended their woeful run of three straight domestic defeats by beating Brighton last weekend, and then beat Young Boys in Champions League midweek action.

• Both sides – There hasn’t been a clean sheet in any of the last four meetings between both sides, while City have won four of the last five Manchester derbies. Interestingly, this is the nineth Manchester derby played immediately after both sides have played a Champions League group game; Man City have won five of the previous eight, with United’s only win coming in December 2012.

The betting tip: Man City win.