The biggest fixture in Spanish football returns with the title race on the line, as Barcelona host arch-rivals Real Madrid in Sunday’s high-stakes El Clasico. Four points separate the sides at the summit of La Liga, and a win for the Catalans could all but seal the crown, while defeat would blow the race wide open.
Barcelona – Champions League heartbreak, but domestic dominance
Barcelona came within minutes of a Champions League final, only for Inter Milan to crush their hopes in a dramatic extra-time thriller. Raphinha’s 87th-minute goal had seemingly sent Hansi Flick’s side through, but a 93rd-minute leveller and extra-time dagger ended the dream in brutal fashion.
Despite the heartbreak, the Blaugrana are still eyeing a treble of domestic titles, having already claimed the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey. They hold a firm grip on La Liga, with four straight wins keeping them four points clear at the top. A draw would keep them comfortably in control, but another Clasico win—their fourth over Madrid this season—would deliver a crushing blow to their rivals’ hopes.
Barcelona haven’t tasted defeat in the league since early March, and their fixture list (Espanyol, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao) looks favourable should they avoid a stumble here.
Real Madrid – Must-win territory for fading contenders
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are running out of rope. Dumped out of the Champions League by Arsenal and bested by Barcelona in two domestic finals, the La Liga title is now their last chance at redemption in an increasingly turbulent campaign.
Victory on Sunday is not mathematically essential, but anything less than three points would render their pursuit near-hopeless. With whispers growing louder about Ancelotti’s potential Saudi switch and Xabi Alonso waiting in the wings, El Clasico may double as an audition for the club’s future.
Unlike their rivals, Real Madrid had a full week to prepare after edging Celta Vigo 3-2 last weekend. They’ve won four league games in a row, keeping three clean sheets along the way, and claimed a 2-1 Clasico win in last season’s equivalent fixture. But Mbappe’s three-game losing streak against Barça since his arrival looms large.
Team News
Barcelona are boosted by the return of Alejandro Balde, who is expected to start at left-back. Robert Lewandowski should also return to the XI after making his comeback off the bench against Inter. Inigo Martinez is fit, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen could reclaim the gloves from Szczesny. However, Kounde, Bernal, Torre and Casado remain sidelined.
Real Madrid are without a host of regulars, including Rudiger, Carvajal, Mendy, Alaba, Militao and Camavinga. Rodrygo is expected to return from illness, though Arda Guler may keep his place after impressing against Celta. Federico Valverde may be deployed at right-back in a makeshift defence, while Bellingham will operate in a more advanced role behind Mbappe and Vinicius.
Predicted Line-ups
Barcelona:
Ter Stegen; E Garcia, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Real Madrid:
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Tchouameni, F Garcia; Ceballos, Modric; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
Match Info
Competition: La Liga
Date: Sunday, May 12, 2025
Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona
Referee: Alejandro Hernández
Kick-off: 03:15pm
What’s at Stake
For Barcelona, victory would send them seven points clear with just three games left—a near-insurmountable lead in the title race. But should Real Madrid leave Catalonia with all three points, the pressure would flip back onto Flick’s side, setting up a nerve-jangling run-in and possibly one final twist in a thrilling La Liga season.
