Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Line-ups, stats and preview
Real Madrid vs Barcelona preview
The biggest club match in world football will take center stage on Sunday when Real Madrid and Barcelona face off in the first El Clasico of the season.
Xabi Alonso has settled in well at the Santiago Bernabeu and his Madrid team enters the match with a two points ahead of their main Catalan rivals.
Alonso's Barca counterpart Hansi Flick may have to watch the game from the stands after being sent off during the closing stages of last weekend's win over Girona. The club has appealed the one-match sanction to the appeals committee and is awaiting the verdict.
In the heated atmosphere of a Clasico, being detached from your players is not an ideal scenario and could prove a factor in a game in which the smallest details are likely to matter.
Both teams have rebounded well in recent weeks after demoralizing defeats. Madrid were beaten 5-2 by city rivals Atletico but have since recorded four successive victories in all competitions. Barca have recorded back-to-back wins since their 4-1 defeat at Sevilla on October 5.
The Blaugrana were far too strong for Olympiacos in midweek, winning 6-1, and look well placed as they prepare to head to the capital.
Defender Ronald Araujo told BarcaTV: “We have good dynamics. We have a competitive team and we have the conditions and the quality to win.
“It's an important match and that's why there's always this anxiety. But I think in the Clasicos that we enjoyed, they went well and that's what we have to do.”
Barca must have taken advantage of clashes with Madrid last season, winning all four, including a 4-0 success in the corresponding La Liga match at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid – Barcelona team news
Madrid will likely have Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal back in the team, but neither will start. This means that Federico Valverde will continue at right-back.
Dean Huijsen is expected to make the starting XI, however, after overcoming a calf strain suffered during international duty.
Raphinha is Barca's main concern after the Brazilian striker, who was expected to return, missed training on Friday. Jules Kounde is fit after a scare while Frenkie de Jong has overcome gastroenteritis.
Joan Garcia, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski are all injured.
Predicted line-ups for Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Güler, Tchouameni; Mastantuono, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappé
Barcelona: Szczęsny; Koundé, Cubarsi, Araujo, Baldé; De Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Lopez, Rashford; Torres
How to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona: TV and online streams
Real Madrid vs Barcelona kicks off on Sunday at 3.15pm UK time. The match will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1, from 2:45 p.m.
You can stream it on the Bet365 website and app.
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Statistics for Real Madrid vs Barcelona
- Real Madrid have won 11 of their 12 matches this season, with the only failure coming against Atletico.
- Barcelona are La Liga's top scorer with 24 goals in nine matches.
2025-10-24 15:11:00
