Real Madrid still have three domestic league games to play before they face Partizan in a best-of-five series in the EuroLeague playoffs. The first matchup is with Barcelona, their main rival, and the other two are against Girona and Joventut Badalona. The winner of el Clasico will have an advantage because Barca and Madrid are only one win behind current ACB leaders Cazoo Baskonia.

Since the Catalans defeated Madrid 87-78 at the Wizink Center in the first round, the point average is in their favor. The two teams split wins in the EuroLeague regular-season, but Barca finished higher (second) due to a better tie-breaker.

Ahead of this important game, Sergio Llull is expected to return to the team after two months, overcoming the knee injury to the internal lateral ligament he suffered in the Copa del Rey. Nigel Williams-Goss is also back after being out for a month due to a muscle tear.

Anthony Randolph, Eli Ndiaye, Vincent Poirier, and Rudy Fernandez (back issue) will miss this game, but Adam Hanga, who suffered a left knee injury against Maccabi on Thursday, is fine and will play.