Real Madrid and FC Barcelona face each other this Sunday for the 191st time in LaLiga EA Sports. The Santiago Bernabéu stadium once again hosts the 'culés' and 'merengues', this time for matchday 10 of the Spanish First Division, exactly one year after the 'baño' [drubbing] by Barça in the first match between both teams of the 24/25 season.

Hansi Flick's team thrashed Carlo Ancelotti's (0-4) in the first of four victories in Clásicos against a Madrid side that closed the season without titles. Barça, on the other hand, took advantage of their dominance against the Whites to achieve the national treble (League, Cup and Super Cup). A year later, the Barça team maintains its base intact, although the team arrives with up to 7 absentees due to injury.

Of the goalscorers in the last visit to Chamartín, only Lamine Yamal will be available on Sunday. Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski remain in the infirmary, in the case of the Brazilian after relapsing from his injury to his right thigh. Ahead will be a Real Madrid that, despite arriving as leader on matchday 10, still has many doubts to resolve with Xabi Alonso on the bench.

  • 📺 Where and when to watch the match: the channels that broadcast Real Madrid-Barcelona SEE

Barça seeks its second victory in a row at the Bernabéu

Both teams arrived at the Clásico separated by 2 points. Madrid won 8 of their first 9 matches, with the very tough defeat against Atlético at the Metropolitano (5-2), for the moment, being the only setback of the season. Barça, meanwhile, dropped points in Vallecas in Matchday 3 (1-1) and were also surprisingly thrashed by Sevilla (4-1) at the Pizjuán.

The "culés" had a drop in performance in the week leading up to the second break of the 24/25 season, adding a pair of defeats in a row for the second time since the arrival of Hansi Flick. Injuries have diminished the team's collective level, especially when it comes to maintaining high pressure for 90 minutes and preserving defensive order.

With Joan García unavailable due to injury, Szczesny had to return to the starting lineup. However, the Polish player has not been able to keep a clean sheet in 5 appearances. A clear symptom of the fragility of the Azulgrana defense in recent matches.

LAST 5 MATCHES OF BARÇA AND REAL MADRID
H BARÇA R. MADRID A
H 🟢 6-1 vs Olympiacos* 1-0 vs Juventus* H🟢
H 🟢 2-1 vs Girona 0-1 vs Getafe A🟢
A 🔴 4-1 vs Sevilla 3-1 vs Villarreal H🟢
H 🔴 1-2 vs PSG* 0-5 vs Kairat* A🟢
H 🟢 2-1 vs R. Sociedad 5-2 vs Atlético A 🔴
  • *Champions League Match
  • H: Home
  • H: Home
  • A: Away

Barça, however, turned the page on the setbacks against PSG and Sevilla with a victory in added time against Girona (2-1) and the thrashing against Olympiacos in the Champions League (6-1). The 'culés' are confident of recovering their best form at the Bernabéu, a stadium where the team has won on 9 occasions (6 by a landslide) in the last 15 years. 

Facing them will be a Real Madrid that also overcame the 'manita' against Atlético with 4 consecutive victories, mostly with little brilliance and depending too much on the goals of Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman has 15 goals in 12 games, being the main threat to a Barça goal that he already breached 3 times last season.

  • ℹ️ Squad list: the players called up by Hansi Flick for Real Madrid-Barcelona: SEE

Hansi Flick will opt for a more recognizable XI in the Clásico, even with many absentees

Lamine Yamal and Fermín López celebrating in the Barça-Olympiacos match

For Sunday, Hansi Flick will once again be able to count on Lamine Yamal and Fermín López from the start, as well as Ferran Torres. The 'Shark' scored 5 goals in the first 10 games of the 25/26 season, but missed the last 2 due to an overload. Fermín is coming off a 'hat-trick' against Olympiacos and will accompany Lamine and Marcus Rashford, who are also coming into the Clásico on fire.

The '10' and the Englishman also scored against the Greek team and have participated in 8 and 11 goals so far this season, respectively. A good part of the Blaugrana's chances of victory will depend on the work of both wingers against a Real Madrid that continues to be vulnerable at the back, despite conceding one goal less than the Blaugrana (9).

With Raphinha and Lewandowski unavailable, in addition to Dani Olmo and Gavi, Flick will bet on Fermín as an attacking midfielder and Ferran as a '9'. Roony Bardghji will await his opportunity on the bench alongside 'Dro' and Toni Fernández, both alternatives in attack in the last two matches.

Deep down, Szczesny remains in goal, while Koundé and Balde will be the full-backs, barring any surprises. The Frenchman suffered a blow during the week, but managed to recover in time and is aiming for the starting XI. Eric García and Pau Cubarsí could repeat in the center for the third consecutive game, while Pedri and Frenkie de Jong will return to midfield. 

The other confirmed absences for Sunday are Joan García, Ter Stegen, and Christensen, the latter due to a stomach problem. Names like Ronald Araujo, Marc Casadó, and Marc Bernal will be important in the second half to give oxygen to a squad that is somewhat short due to injuries.

  • 👉 Lineups: the possible starting XI for FC Barcelona and Real Madrid: SEE

El Clásico Could Be Decisive for the Xabi Alonso Era at Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso during a Real Madrid match.

For its part, Real Madrid recovers four injured players against Barça, although none of them are expected to start. This is the case of Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Ceballos, all returning from injury just in time to enter Xabi Alonso's list.

The man from Tolosa, barring any surprises, will keep Fede Valverde and Álvaro Carreras as full-backs. Éder Militao and Raúl Asencio would be the centre-backs, with Courtois in goal and Tchouaméni as the '5'. Jude Bellingham would be the attacking midfielder, accompanied by Arda Güler. The Englishman and the Turk must play behind Vinicius and Mbappé, the two area references for Los Blancos.

The main doubt revolves around the presence of another forward (Mastanuono, Brahim, or Rodrygo) or the inclusion of another defensive-minded midfielder (Camavinga or Ceballos). The option of fielding a double pivot with Tchouaméni and Camavinga seems sensible given Valverde's forced presence on the wing.

In any case, Xabi Alonso knows that a defeat against Barcelona at home could be lethal for the future of his project. The man from Tolosa was thrashed against Atlético and against PSG in the Club World Cup. In other words, the team has been clearly outmatched in its most challenging matches.

If Barça were to crush the 'merengues' again, the man from Tolosa would automatically be on thin ice, with his continuity harshly questioned by the fans and a locker room divided by egos and a lack of confidence to overcome rivals of greater hierarchy.