The first El Clásico of the season arrives with Real Madrid sitting two points clear of their arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga, and they’ll look to strengthen their grip on the title race with a statement victory at the Santiago Bernabéu. Xabi Alonso’s men are in outstanding form, having won four straight matches across all competitions, conceding just once in that span, Softfootball reports.
Their most recent outing, a 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Juventus showcased their growing defensive solidity and composure under pressure. That resilience followed their only defeat of the campaign, a humbling 5-2 loss to Atlético Madrid, which now feels firmly behind them.
Alonso, who famously played in 20 Clásicos during his career, will be keen to break a managerial curse, seven of Real’s last eight managers have lost their first league game against Barcelona. But home advantage could prove decisive, as Los Blancos have won eight consecutive home league matches, their longest such streak since 2015.
A mix of experience and attacking brilliance led by Kylian Mbappé, who has scored 11 goals in just eight games against Barcelona, could see Madrid edge another chapter in this historic rivalry.
Defending champions Barcelona travel to Madrid with renewed confidence after a resounding 6-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Olympiacos, and with an extra day of rest on their side. Despite a string of injuries to key forwards, Hansi Flick’s men continue to fire up front leading the league in goals scored while showing mental strength after conceding first in four of their nine league games.
That fighting spirit will be crucial at the Bernabéu, where Barca will seek to avoid back-to-back league defeats on the road after their 4-1 loss to Sevilla, a result that ended their impressive 15-match unbeaten away run.
The Catalan side have dominated this fixture recently, winning all four El Clásicos last season, including two in finals, scoring at least three goals in each. A fifth successive victory over Real would mark a new modern-era milestone for the Blaugrana.
Lamine Yamal, who tormented Madrid last season with three goals and two assists across their meetings, will again be a key figure, especially if he can exploit Madrid’s high defensive line. With attacking fluency restored and their title rivals within touching distance, Barcelona will arrive in Madrid hungry to reclaim top spot.
It’s no doubt it’s a massive moment for Sunderland beating Chelsea at home despite being a goal down, this means a lot for Sunderland as it’s evident in the post match reaction shared by the team’s official X handle showing the players and fans emotions after the full time whistle, They posted:
Team News
Real Madrid have received positive injury news ahead of the clash, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, and Dean Huijsen all nearing full fitness. Xabi Alonso will again turn to Kylian Mbappé, who has been prolific in this fixture and will look to continue his fine form in front of goal. The Frenchman’s combination with Vinícius Júnior has been central to Madrid’s recent attacking dominance.
The los Blancos side shared an update with fans through its official X handle, posting the official squad list of the players to face Barcelona tomorrow. They posted:
Barcelona, meanwhile, are hopeful that Raphinha will be fit to make his return after training with the squad this week. Xavi will count on the creativity of Pedri and the composure of Frenkie de Jong in midfield to control the tempo. Expect Lamine Yamal to start on the right, where his pace and trickery could again cause problems for Madrid’s backline.
Possible Lineups
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Asencio, Carreras; Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; E Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Ferran
The blaugrana club through its official X handle shared an exclusive video of the team arriving at Madrid airport ahead of the clash tomorrow. They posted:
SoftFootball Prediction
With both sides in free-scoring form and packed with attacking talent, this edition of El Clásico promises fireworks. Real Madrid’s home advantage and defensive discipline under Alonso could be the deciding factor, but Barcelona’s sharpness and belief after their Olympiacos rout make them dangerous opponents. Expect a tight, high-intensity clash with both teams likely to score.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2–2 Barcelona
