The first leg of the El Classico between two Spanish giants takes place this Sunday, October 16th, 2022, at the home ground of the host, Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid looks set to lock horns with FC Barcelona in what promises to be a clash between two Spanish heavyweights. This tie between these two teams is particularly interesting as they head against each other, locked on equal amounts of points after playing an equal number of games. Although Real Madrid sits top of LaLiga, ahead against their fiercest rival on goal difference, they still will be wary of the visitors, who are enjoying a very good season post-Messi era.

Not much has separated these two sides in recent weeks, as they have both been clinical and potent in front of the goal when it matters most. However, a victory for either of these sides will most likely decide who leaves with the LaLiga trophy come the end of the season. In Europe, while Los Blancos has been particularly impressive, qualifying for the round of 16 knockout phases with a game to spare in the champions league, Barcelona has had their European campaign in jeopardy after failing to secure a victory against inter Milan over two legs, with the most recent meeting against the Italian side, ending in a hard-fought 3-3 draw last week.

The visitors will desperately seek to get their attention back on track when they face the current LaLiga champions in a mouthwatering encounter. Real Madrid has been on fire this season, continuing from where they stopped the last term, a season which saw them clinging to the champions league and LaLiga in what will go down as history for the Los Blancos side. However pretty the home side's form has been in recent weeks, caution will not be thrown into the wind against a side they have failed to beat in their last two meetings. The last two meetings between Madrid and Barcelona have ended in favor of the visitors, going away with the match points. Hence we anticipate an eventful encounter when these two sides go head to head.

More so, we predict that Barcelona, whose forwards have found a new lease of life under new manager Xavi, will pose a potential threat against the home side, who have conceded in all but one of their last seven LaLiga matches heading into this tie. However beautiful the host match results look on paper, in reality, their defense will be of major concern when they go head-to-head against the visitors. Barcelona again showed why their young forward line is arguably the best in Europe when they came back to force a share of the spoils against Inter in the champions league last week.

Lewandoski has been prolific in front of goal in recent weeks, with Ansu Fati now fit again to start, and Pedri and Raphinha all certain to be in the lineup for this tie. With such days depth for the visitors, we believe they will pose as ambitious outsiders who can prevent a defeat in this tie by winning or drawing this one. Real Madrid’s Kareem Benzema is still sidelined with an injury and is a major doubt for this clash.

We predict an away win or draw to Barcelona in this tie, with their defense keeping in shape in their last ten matches in LaLiga, keeping clean sheets while punishing the opponents with counter-scintillating football.

本译文试用有道机器翻译，仅供参考：

两支西班牙豪门之间的甲级联赛首回合比赛将于本周日(2022年10月16日)在东道主圣地亚哥伯纳乌球场举行。皇家马德里队似乎要和巴塞罗那队打起来了，这注定是两大西班牙豪门之间的一场交锋。这两支球队之间的平局特别有趣，因为他们在打了同样多的比赛后，锁定了同样多的积分。尽管皇马在西甲联赛中排名第一，在净胜球上领先于他们最强劲的对手，但他们仍然会对客队保持警惕，后者正享受着后梅西时代的一个非常好的赛季。

最近几周，这两支球队并没有太多的分歧，因为在关键时刻，他们都在门前表现得冷静而有力。然而，这两支球队的任何一场胜利都极有可能决定赛季结束后谁能带走西甲冠军奖杯。在欧洲，虽然蓝衣军团表现特别出色，在欧冠少赛一场的情况下就进入了16强淘汰赛，但巴塞罗那在两回合未能战胜国际米兰后，他们的欧洲之旅陷入了危机。最近一次与意大利球队的交锋，在上周以艰难的3-3战平。

当客队在一场令人垂涎欲滴的比赛中面对西甲冠军时，他们将竭尽全力让自己的注意力回到正轨上。本赛季皇马的状态一直很好，在上赛季的基础上继续保持着他们的状态。上赛季皇马在欧冠和西甲联赛中都取得了成功，这将成为白衣军团的历史。不管主队最近几周的状态有多好，面对一支他们在过去两次交锋中都未能击败的球队，他们都不会轻易放弃警惕。马德里和巴塞罗那最近的两次交锋都以客队获胜而告终，他们带走了赛点。因此，我们预计双方在正面交锋时将会有一场多事之交。

更重要的是，我们预测巴萨，他们的前锋在新教练哈维的带领下获得了新生，将对主队构成潜在的威胁，主队在最近的七场西甲联赛中除了一场外全部失球。不管东道主的比赛结果在纸面上看起来多么漂亮，实际上，当他们与客队正面交锋时，他们的防守将是主要问题。巴塞罗那在上周的欧冠比赛中再次证明了他们的年轻前锋阵容是欧洲最好的。

莱万多斯基最近几周在门前的表现非常出色，安苏·法蒂现在已经恢复到可以首发的状态，佩德里和拉芬哈也肯定会出现在这场比赛的阵容中。我们相信客队会表现出雄心勃勃的局外人的姿态，他们可以通过这场比赛的胜利或平局来避免失利。皇家马德里队的本泽马仍因伤缺阵，这是这场比赛的一大疑点。

我们预测在这场比赛中巴萨将在客场取得胜利或平局，他们的防守在最近10场西甲联赛中保持良好状态，保持零封，同时用反闪烁的足球惩罚对手。