Graham Hunter thinks Real Madrid have the edge when the La Liga season resumes tomorrow night, and feels their physical improvements stand them in good stead for the run-in.
Barcelona currently hold a two-point lead at the top of the Spanish standings with 27 games each played before the season pause due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Hunter joined Eoin and Nathan on OTB AM this morning and he said he feels Los Blancos have an advantage over their Catalan rivals.
"This has been their worst season since Frank Rijkaard left in terms of consistency... intensity. They've been saved by grit, the real hard-nosed grit of Pique and Stegen and the genius of Messi, although Messi has not been playing at his best since about the Ballon d'Or awards. Prior to that it was pretty sexy stuff.
"You've got Real Madrid, if they score enough goals to match their possession, if they could win at home more regularly, they would be top instead of two points behind.
"I think that Real Madrid have been the better side across the season. I think they began to look a little bit jaded, [but] they have a very talented physical trainer, Gregory Dupont, who I think got them in shape pretty quickly.
"Their lack of physicality was affecting their clarity in the final pass and finishing. I think during the gap they will have benefitted... even though Marco Asensio was out for a very long time he is back. He will add both goals and goal assists.
"The superb partnership that was blossoming between Eden Hazard and [Karim] Benzema can be resumed. Those two forward alternatives will give a cutting edge to Real Madrid."
Real will be playing games at their training ground, with the Santiago Bernabéu under heavy renovations - Hunter thinks that could be an advantage for them.
Real Madrid's training session on the eve of the Spanish "clasico" football match Real Madrid vs Barcelona at the Valdebebas training center in Madrid on 29.2.2020. (Photo by Raddad Jebarah/NurPhoto)"Real Madrid were tripping up at the Bernabéu, they were drawing and losing games they should have been winning. I think it will do them no harm whatsoever to be playing their games at their training ground, taking them away from an empty Bernabéu.
"[They'll be] playing in an area where they work every day, I think it's a minor advantage but that's a plus. Real Madrid's fixtures in my mind are a smidge easier, but they have to beat Valencia and Real Sociedad to make sure the pressure is on Barcelona.
"I think they have the nicer run-in, and it's against the odds slightly... it's an instinct. I honestly think Real Madrid are a stronger, younger, athletically better side.
"I think when you play so many games in a short space of time, with five substitutes allowed, I think Real Madrid' squad are athletic and they have a better cutting edge up front than they did. I think that edges it for them."
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
