Handicap 0.25\n\n This line says the favored team (Real Madrid) is one-quarter of a goal better than the underdog (Barca). By betting a quarter bet  you are minimizing your risk because it essentially means that you have two options not to lose your bet. If you wager on Los Blancos at -0.25 and they win, you win your bet.

A spread of +0.5 means that the team must win or draw the game for the spread bet to win. A spread bet is a bet on the margin of victory with a handicap (or line) attached to it, in this case the handicap is +0.5.