El Clásico returns with high stakes as Real Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday afternoon. With just two points separating the fierce rivals at the summit of La Liga, victory for Los Blancos would see them open up a five-point lead over the defending champions, while a Barcelona win would see them leapfrog their hosts.
Real Madrid OverviewXabi Alonso’s Real Madrid enter this contest in commanding form, winning 11 of their 12 matches in all competitions. Their only setback came in September’s 5-2 derby defeat to Atlético Madrid, but since then, Los Blancos have responded with four consecutive wins across all fronts. A 1-0 triumph over Getafe in La Liga was followed by another narrow 1-0 victory in midweek as Jude Bellingham’s goal sealed a Champions League win against Juventus.
Though not yet flawless, Real’s strength at home has been immense; eight straight league wins at the Bernabéu mark their best run since 2015. However, their defensive stability will again be tested, with key injuries forcing tactical reshuffles at the back. Alonso, who won just five of his 20 Clásicos as a player, will be eager to stamp his authority as a manager in a fixture that could define Madrid’s early-season dominance.
Barcelona OverviewHansi Flick’s Barcelona arrive in the capital buoyed by a 6-1 demolition of Olympiacos in the Champions League, a much-needed response after their shock 4-1 defeat to Sevilla earlier this month. Despite enduring a difficult injury spell, the Blaugrana remain La Liga’s top scorers with 24 goals, showing resilience through their young stars and tactical adaptability.
Their away form, however, poses a concern. That heavy defeat in Seville snapped a 15-match unbeaten league run on the road. To reclaim top spot, Barcelona will need to rediscover the consistency that powered their title run last season. Lamine Yamal’s emergence has been a bright spark, but the absence of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha leaves Flick short on attacking options.
Head-to-HeadBarcelona dominated last season’s Clásicos, winning all four meetings — two of them in cup finals — and scoring at least three goals in each. Real Madrid, though, have taken seven of the last 11 league encounters, and with home advantage, they will be desperate to halt the Blaugrana’s momentum in this iconic rivalry.Quickfire StatsFour of Real’s six home league wins this season came by a single-goal margin.
Real have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven home Clásicos.Barcelona have hit the woodwork a league-high ten times this season.Both teams have scored in each of Barcelona’s last six matches in all competitions.Team NewsReal Madrid could welcome back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, and Dean Huijsen, but Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba remain sidelined.
Federico Valverde is expected to continue at right-back, while Jude Bellingham joins Franco Mastantuono, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior in attack.For Barcelona, Frenkie de Jong returns after illness, but Jules Koundé and Raphinha remain doubtful. With Marc-André ter Stegen, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Dani Olmo, and Joan Garcia all out, Flick will again rely on his young core — with Yamal, Fermin López, and Marcus Rashford likely supporting Ferran Torres up front.Predicted LineupsReal Madrid (4-3-3):Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Asencio, Carreras; Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappé, ViníciusBarcelona (4-2-3-1):Szczesny; E. Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; FerranMatch InfoDate: 26 October 2025Kickoff: 15:15 (WAT)Venue: Estadio Santiago BernabéuCompetition: La LigaWhat’s at StakeBragging rights aside, this Clásico could have early title implications.
A Madrid victory would open a five-point gap at the top and strengthen their grip on the campaign, while a Barcelona win could shift the power dynamic and restore belief in their injury-hit squad. For both sides, this is not just a battle for points — it’s a statement of supremacy.
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