Barcelona make the trip to the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday for the first El Clásico of the 2025-26 campaign.
The two giants of Spanish football are set for another thrilling chapter in their fierce rivalry, with Real Madrid currently topping La Liga on 24 points and Barcelona close behind in second, just two points adrift.
Barcelona XI vs Real Madrid – Predicted lineup and team news
Barcelona Team News
The Catalans grapple with significant fitness concerns. Raphinha will miss out after new discomfort in training this week forced the forward out of the session early and ruled him out of contention for Sunday. Barça are also without head coach Hansi Flick, serving a one-match ban after his dismissal against Girona. Despite appealing the decision, the ruling was upheld, and assistant Marcus Sorg will take charge of the technical area.
There is a silver lining for the Catalans, with Frenkie de Jong and Andreas Christensen now back in full training after their recent illnesses. Jules Kounde is also declared fit to play.
However, the squad remains depleted, missing regulars like Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Joan Garcia, Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, and Gavi. Expect Ferran Torres to lead the attack, while Marcus Rashford is ready for his first Clásico appearance.
Despite being shorthanded, Barcelona have managed to string together vital wins over Girona (2-1) and Olympiacos (6-1) after the international break. The champions were dominant in these fixtures and had the upper hand in all four El Clásico battles last season, hitting 16 goals and conceding only seven.
Barcelona Predicted Lineup
Possible Barcelona starting XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Rashford; Torres.
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 4:15pm BST on Sunday, 26th October.
How to Watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can catch the match live on Premier Sports 1, with coverage set to showcase every moment from this high-octane encounter.
Read Also – Slot says former Liverpool star was ‘right’ to leave Anfield
See More – FM26: The best wonderkids in Football Manager 2026
