MADRID (BN24) — Real Madrid will be looking to move five points clear at the top of the La Liga table when they welcome Barcelona to Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon for the latest installment of El Clasico.
Los Blancos are currently two points clear of second-placed Blaugrana at the summit, but both have already lost in Spain’s top flight this term, and it is shaping up to be another fascinating battle between the bitter rivals.
Real Madrid have almost been note-perfect this season, posting eleven wins from their twelve matches in all competitions, with their only defeat coming away to Atletico Madrid at the end of September. Xabi Alonso’s side have won eight of their nine league matches, with twenty-four points seeing them top of the table, two points ahead of second-placed Barcelona, and they recorded a 1-0 victory over Getafe in La Liga last time out.
Los Blancos were also 1-0 winners in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with Jude Bellingham on the scoresheet against Juventus to keep the capital outfit perfect in the league phase of the tournament.
Real Madrid have not been at their best this season, already conceding nine times in their nine matches, but they are the second-highest goalscorers in Spain’s top flight this term on twenty goals, four fewer than Barcelona have managed.
Los Blancos have four more games before the November international break kicks in, welcoming Valencia to Bernabeu on November 1 before the small matter of a trip to Liverpool in the Champions League three days later. Alonso’s side will then head to Rayo Vallecano in the league on November 9.
Real Madrid will have revenge on their minds in this match, as Barcelona won all four matches between the two sides last season across three competitions, including a stunning 4-0 victory at Bernabeu last October.
Barcelona were in Champions League action during the week, recording a 6-1 victory over Olympiacos to return to winning ways in the competition, making it six points from their first three matches.
The Catalan outfit were stunned by Sevilla before the October international break, suffering a 4-1 defeat, but they managed to bounce back against Girona last weekend, securing a 2-1 win, before finding the back of the net on six occasions in the Champions League last time out.
Barcelona’s other dropped points in La Liga this season came away to Rayo Vallecano at the end of August, and injury problems have caused the champions issues early in the campaign. Their defense has also been far from watertight, and that will be a cause for concern ahead of this match.
Hansi Flick’s side will play four more matches before the campaign is again halted in November, taking on Elche and Celta Vigo either side of a Champions League game away to Club Brugge.
Barcelona will again be looking to Lamine Yamal for inspiration on Sunday, but he will need help from those around him, with the Catalan outfit set to be missing some key attackers at Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have welcomed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen back into their squad for Sunday’s match, but Antonio Rudiger is still out with a serious muscular injury. David Alaba will also again miss out due to a groin complaint, but Dani Ceballos has returned, while Los Blancos have not suffered any fresh issues in the build-up to the much-anticipated contest.
Due to the uncertainty at the back, Federico Valverde is likely to continue at right-back, with Raul Asencio in the middle. The latter was forced off late against Juventus but was only suffering from cramp.
Bellingham scored his first goal of the campaign against Juventus, and the England international will be looking to join an attack which is set to include Franco Mastantuono, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
As for Barcelona, Frenkie de Jong is back in training after an illness and will start, but Jules Kounde is a major doubt, having missed training on Thursday and Friday due to a knock.
Raphinha was also absent from training Friday, with the Brazilian losing his battle to recover from a hamstring injury in time, which is a major blow for Barcelona, as he was expected to be available.
Joan Garcia, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo are definitely out of the match, so Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford could form the attacking three behind Ferran Torres.
Ronald Araujo is likely to feature in the middle of the defense alongside Pau Cubarsi if Kounde is ruled out, with Eric Garcia potentially being required at right-back.
Real Madrid’s possible starting lineup features Courtois in goal, Valverde, Militao, Asencio and Carreras in defense, Guler, Tchouameni and Bellingham in midfield, with Mastantuono, Mbappe and Vinicius in attack.
Barcelona’s possible starting lineup includes Szczesny in goal, Eric Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi and Balde in defense, Pedri and De Jong in midfield, with Yamal, Fermin and Rashford supporting Ferran Torres in attack.
This is always a difficult match to predict, but Real Madrid will enter as favorites considering that it is at Bernabeu while also taking into account Barcelona’s injury problems. That said, the Catalan giants still have significant quality in their side.
Real Madrid’s La Liga form shows six matches with five wins and one loss. Barcelona’s La Liga form shows six matches with five wins and one loss. Both teams have been strong in all competitions with Real Madrid posting six matches with five wins and one loss, while Barcelona shows six matches with four wins and two losses.
The match represents a critical juncture in the La Liga title race. A Real Madrid victory would establish a five-point cushion at the top of the table, while a Barcelona win would level the teams on points and potentially shift momentum in the championship chase.
The historical context adds intrigue to Sunday’s encounter. Barcelona’s sweep of all four meetings last season, including the emphatic 4-0 triumph at Bernabeu, gives Real Madrid additional motivation to avenge those defeats.
Both managers face selection challenges. Alonso must manage defensive absences while maintaining attacking potency. Flick confronts a more severe injury crisis, particularly in attack where the unavailability of Lewandowski, Olmo and Raphinha forces creative solutions.
The tactical battle will likely center on how Barcelona’s makeshift attack handles Real Madrid’s reorganized defense. Yamal’s creativity becomes even more crucial given Barcelona’s offensive absences, while Real Madrid’s attacking trio of Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham presents formidable threats.
An entertaining draw appears the most likely outcome given both teams’ quality and current circumstances, though home advantage and Barcelona’s injury problems tilt odds slightly toward Real Madrid securing three points to extend their league lead.
