Barca-Madrid: the questions that will determine the Clasico

We're little more than 24 hours away from a Clasico that stands to have considerable implications on this season's LaLiga title race. Barcelona lead Real Madrid by nine points in the table and have won the past two meetings between the sides, and a third straight victory would all but wrap up the league title for the Catalan club.

On the back of an impressive Champions League last-16 win over Liverpool, though, there's every reason to suggest that Madrid are beginning to hit their stride at the campaign's inflection point. They're Spain's defending domestic champions and won the October meeting between the clubs in convincing fashion.

What should you expect when the two famous rivals line up on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)? ESPN's Barcelona and Madrid correspondents Sam Marsden and Alex Kirkland lay out the biggest storylines ahead of the match and make their predictions.

Barcelona's 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg on March 2 wasn't a complete fluke — although their goal, Franck Kessie's shot hitting the net via Thibaut Courtois' save and Eder Militao's unwitting deflection, definitely was — but it was unusual. Madrid «dominated» the game, in the words of Courtois. Barcelona had a historically low 35.4% possession, forced to sit back and defend deep. Madrid had 13 shots to Barca's four. The difference in xG, or expected goals, was minimal: 0.57 for Madrid and 0.63 for Barca. Madrid's problem was the final ball and creating high-quality chances. None of their shots were on target.

— Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) — Barca vs. Madrid: Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+

For coach Carlo Ancelotti, the idea for Sunday's LaLiga Clasico — and the