Real Madrid vs Barcelona – Preview & Prediction: Real Madrid will play at home against Barcelona in the EuroLeague Round 22.
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Real Madrid vs Barcelona Preview
Real Madrid recorded three consecutive EuroLeague wins, which lifted them to a 13-8 record. However, it should be noted that in none of those games did they face a team currently inside the top 12 of the standings, so the schedule was favorable for the reigning Spanish champion. In the previous round, they handled Maccabi Tel Aviv without major issues, winning 98-86. The Israeli team was without Lonnie Walker, which certainly affected their chances, but that is not Real Madrid’s concern. They took advantage of the situation to continue their winning streak and entered this round in a position that leads directly to the EuroLeague playoffs. Looking at advanced statistics, Real Madrid is a dominant rebounding team and generally holds opponents to low shooting percentages. The main reason for that is Walter Tavares, a true giant in the paint, and it is never easy to score when he is near the rim.
However, Real Madrid’s team defense has been weaker this season compared to previous years. In the recent past, they were consistently among the top five defenses by defensive rating, which is no longer the case. There have also been issues on the offensive end, but as the season progresses, Real Madrid is finding more and more players in rhythm. Mario Hezonja with 16 points and Facundo Campazzo with 15 were the top performers against Maccabi Tel Aviv. They are also the two players with the biggest reputation in the club. When both of them are offensively locked in, Real Madrid becomes extremely difficult to deal with. Theo Maledon is also increasingly showing his full offensive repertoire, which is why he was brought in from Asvel, while Trey Lyles quickly established himself as a real force at the power forward position. Gabriel Deck has also had several solid performances recently, and the key for this team is continuity. There is no doubt they have the quality to go all the way.
Barcelona played both games of last week’s EuroLeague double round at home and defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv and Partizan in a very similar fashion. There was no real drama at any point, and it was only a question of the margin by which the Catalan giant would win. They are now 14-7 and can legitimately hope to battle for a top-four spot and home-court advantage in the EuroLeague quarterfinals. Since the arrival of Xavi Pascual, the team has made significant progress on both ends of the floor. Defensively, they have become much tougher and play with far more aggression and focus. On the offensive end, tough shots have been reduced to a minimum. The offense is built patiently, constantly searching for the player in the best position, and that approach is paying off. Under the previous coach Joan Penarroya, there was much more freedom on offense, but ultimately that approach led to a change on the bench. Coach Pascual quickly set clear principles that all players follow, and he has often been praised by them in the media recently.
Willy Hernangomez was the most efficient player against Partizan with 16 points and eight rebounds, and one of coach Pascual’s biggest achievements so far is finding a role for Hernangomez, who was on the margins under both previous coaches. Jan Vesely also looks solid, while Tornike Shengelia is consistently performing at the highest possible level and is the primary option on the low post. The biggest issues are at the point guard position. Nicolas Laprovittola missed a lot of games due to injury and has struggled to find his rhythm, while Tomas Satoransky has often finished games with fewer than five points. That is far too modest for a team aiming to go all the way. Because of that, Kevin Punter takes a large number of shots and often assumes responsibility, and it also helps greatly when Dario Brizuela gets hot and scores in double figures in a short span. Over the last two months, Barcelona has shown that it can beat anyone when playing responsibly and with focus, and there is no doubt they travel to the Spanish capital with that same mindset.
Claim Now Real Madrid vs Barcelona H2H
Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 101-92 on the road in their first EuroLeague matchup of the season, but the Catalan team responded with a 105-100 road win in the Liga Endesa two weeks ago. Prior to that Barcelona victory, Real Madrid had won nine consecutive head-to-head games across all competitions.
Injuries and Suspensions
Real Madrid has no issues with absences. Will Clyburn and Juan Nunez will not play for Barcelona in this game.
Where to Watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona?
Real Madrid vs Barcelona Best Betting Tip and Prediction
Since the arrival of Xavi Pascual, Barcelona has looked like one of the best teams in the EuroLeague. Their only poor performance came in a home loss to Monaco. Apart from that, they have extracted the maximum from every game. Real Madrid plays with a lot of inconsistency and is not fully convincing. We expect the visitors’ defensive intensity to be at the highest possible level and to give themselves a chance to pull off a surprise here. Even if they fail to do so, we do not believe they will lose by a margin of three possessions.
Tip-off Time: Friday, 16.01.2026, 20:45 CET
Prediction: Barcelona +6.5
Odds: 1.74
Stake: 2 Units
Sportsbook: 22Bet
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