Former Barcelona and Real Madrid player Luis Figo predicts favorites for El Clasico

Not many people are in the position of being able to speak about El Clásico in the same way as Luís Figo, who, having experienced this rivalry at both ends, knows better than anyone the impact and emotion this historic duel produces. As we're heading toward another epic clash at Santiago Bernabéu, he didn't hesitate to tip Real Madrid for being favorites, although underlining that unpredictability is always around these types of games.

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A Classic Beyond Numbers

Figo certainly didn't mince words when giving his thoughts on the upcoming El Clásico. In his thinking, whatever the respective form of each team might be, this is a game that is always different because of the rivalry, the aggression, and the atmosphere in general that surrounds it. "El Clásico is always unpredictable. Everybody wants to be there; there is a lot of rivalry, a lot of aggression," Figo said in conversation with Cadena SER.

He underlined that current form doesn't count for much. When the ball gets rolling, all that energy shifts entirely and the match intensity takes over. And that he is right about. If we go back and see the history of Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, many matches have been decided by small details, their unexpected twists, or great performances from a single player.

But Figo thinks Real Madrid is a little more of a favorite, primarily because they are playing at home in the Bernabéu before their fans. "Real Madrid is a bit more of a favorite because they're playing at home, and they need to win to stay at the top." He underlines how playing at the Bernabéu, with unconditional support from the crowd, may affect the team's performance considerably-a feeling Figo knows all too well.

Magical Bernabéu: the stadium that breathes success. If there's one thing Figo does make crystal clear, it's the power in the Santiago Bernabéu over Real Madrid. For this one, playing in this stadium is something different, not for the titles nor the grandness of the club. He afterward underlined how the link that results between the players and the fans generates a special, almost mystical atmosphere feeding onto the team. "It's a connection between the people and the players. It gives you more life, more energy, more intensity," he said.

That psychological boost may prove fundamental this Saturday in the Clásico. When Real Madrid plays in the Bernabéu, they find strength which quite often appears missing on the road. Figo mentions the epic comeback against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League as evidence for the power this stadium and its fans provide.

Every match that Real Madrid plays at the Bernabéu feels like an eternity," Figo said, since it forces the team never to give up but to fight during the course of one minute. It is that kind of intensity which may make all the difference in this El Clásico, especially in a well-contested match.

Real Madrid as Favorites: Figo's Breakdown

But why are Real Madrid favorites beyond playing at home? In an interview, Figo referred to the pressure on the team to win and maintain their position at the top in the LaLiga standings. This adds extra motivation to the players, especially in a game as important as El Clásico. For sure, Madrid do not want to drop points at home, especially in this type of a match.

On the other hand, the quality of the squad and the confidence gained after their Champions League victory present another plus for Madrid. A well-knitted team with superstars such as Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham gives Los Blancos a slight edge in that respect. Meanwhile, inconsistent performances and injury problems have set back Barcelona and might go against the Catalan side.

Then, there's that intangible in soccer-the experience a squad has with crucial moments. Real Madrid, having the history so full of trophies, knows exactly how to handle those types of matches, like El Clásico. It's that winning mentality-one very well known by Figo, who has worn both clubs' iconic jerseys.

Unpredictability in El Clásico

But despite giving Real Madrid the slight edge, Figo did not hold himself from admitting that El Clásico is pretty unpredictable. Unexpected turns happen almost all of the time, and history just proved that to us many times. Sometimes, one moment of genius by a player, an error in defense, or even a controversial refereeing decision sets off an entire turn of events in a completely different direction.

That is precisely what has made El Clásico one of the most-watched matches in world soccer: no matter if it's early, mid-season, or the final stretch, Real Madrid versus Barcelona will always be something special. To Figo, this very uncertainty is what makes El Clásico special.