Barcelona is set to host Real Madrid in the first El Clásico of the season as Hansi Flick’s men will look to secure the three points and make it 10 wins out of 10 in La Liga.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 25th October.
- Kick-off: 9pm BST.
- Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona.
Barcelona team news
Manager Hansi Flick faces a significant tactical puzzle, particularly in midfield and defence. The biggest blow comes in the attacking midfield department, where the influential Dani Olmo has been ruled out for approximately a month after sustaining a left adductor injury against Paris Saint-Germain.
The defensive line is equally compromised; Jules Koundé is officially sidelined after failing to recover from a left ankle sprain picked up against Real Betis.
Flick is also missing vital defensive depth as both Andreas Christensen (thigh strain) and Eric García (right thigh injury) remain unavailable.
With Roony Bardghji out long-term due to an ACL rupture, the league leaders will rely heavily on their remaining stars to maintain their position at the top of the table.
Real Madrid team news
The most significant setback is the absence of Vinícius Júnior, who is suspended for this marquee fixture as part of a four-game domestic ban received for an altercation against Villarreal.
Mourinho’s attacking and defensive depth is further tested with Rodrygo Goes (knee), Ferland Mendy (hip), and young defender Raúl Asencio (leg) all completely ruled out of the travelling squad.
These absences force major tactical adaptations, with Yan Diomande expected to fill the void on the left wing. Defensively, the lack of natural options means midfielder Federico Valverde will likely be deployed out of position as an auxiliary right-back to shore up the backline against Barcelona’s potent attack.
Form
Barcelona
FC Barcelona enter El Clásico in sensational domestic form, sitting atop the La Liga table with a perfect record of nine wins from nine matches. Hansi Flick’s side has been highly prolific, recently thumping Real Betis 5-2 and dismantling Getafe 3-0. However, their flawless momentum suffered a minor midweek speed bump in Europe, where they endured their first defeat of the season in a 4-2 Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid come into the fixture riding a four-match winning streak across all competitions. José Mourinho’s men have found their rhythm after an early-season stumble, recently dominant in a 4-1 La Liga victory over Sevilla. Their clinical form translated beautifully to Europe as well, securing back-to-back Champions League triumphs by outlasting Roma 4-3 before comfortably sweeping aside RB Leipzig 4-1 in their latest midweek outing.
Predicted lineups
Barcelona: J Garcia; Cancelo, Cubarsi, Martin, Espart; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Gordon; Raphinha
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Tchouameni, Bernardo; Guler, Bellingham, Diomande; Mbappe
How to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid?
The match is broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 for UK fans.
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