Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona: possible lineups and absences for the Liga Clásico

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona face each other this Sunday in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid (16:15 CEST), for the tenth matchday of the tournament. Hansi Flick's team arrives with seven absentees due to injury, with Raphinha being the latest to return to the Barça infirmary.

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitutes bench, and the injured and suspended players of Hansi Flick's Barcelona for the Clásico against Real Madrid. Complete analysis!

Possible Barça Starting XI against Real Madrid

1. (#25, G) Szczesny
2. (#23) Jules Koundé
3. (#24) Eric García
4. (#05) Pau Cubarsí
5. (#03) Alejandro Balde
6. (#21) Frenkie de Jong
7. (#08) Pedri
8. (#16) Fermín López
9. (#10) Lamine Yamal
10. (#14) Marcus Rashford
11. (#07) Ferran Torres

Barça bench (substitute players)

1. (#31, GK) Diego Kochen
2. (#33, GK) Eder Aller
3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
4. (#17) Marc Casadó
5. (#18) Gerard Martín
6. (#22) Marc Bernal
7. (#26) Jofre Torrents
8. (#27) Dro Fernández
9. (#28) Roony Bardghji
10. (#29) Toni Fernández
11. (#42) Xavi Espart

Injured Barça Players

1. (#01, G) Marc-André ter Stegen
2. (#06) Gavi
3. (#09) Robert Lewandowski
4. (#11) Raphinha
5. (#13, G) Joan García
6. (#15) Andreas Christensen
7. (#20) Dani Olmo

Possible surprises and tactical variations from Flick in the Clásico against Real Madrid

In principle, Hansi Flick plans to make a couple of adjustments to his lineup from Matchday 9 against Girona (2-1), with Fermín López returning as an attacking midfielder instead of Pedri González. In addition, Ferran Torres could return as a '9', while Marcus Rashford would move to his usual position on the left side.

Goalkeeping and defense

• Wojciech Szczesny will be in goal, while Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs. In the center of defense, Eric García should partner Pau Cubarsí, with Ronald Araujo waiting for his opportunity on the bench, this provided Koundé arrives physically fit to the Bernabéu. Jofre Torrents and Gerard Martín will also be available, as will Xavi Espart.

Midfield:

• As a pivot, Frenkie de Jong is expected to be Pedri's partner in midfield, while Fermín would be the team's attacking midfielder given the absences of Dani Olmo and Raphinha. Marc Bernal awaits his opportunity on the bench.

Forwards:

• In attack, Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford would complete the Barça attack alongside Ferran Torres. The 'Shark' did not play, as a precaution, against Girona and Olympiacos and would return to the XI taking advantage of the absences of Raphinha and Lewandowski. Dro and Toni Fernández await minutes on the bench alongside Roony Bardghji.

Barça casualties: Which players will miss the match against Real Madrid due to injury?

Barça in trouble: Raphinha relapses from his injury; Koundé is also doubtful for the Clásico

A total of seven Barça players will be confirmed absentees due to physical problems. The club lost Raphinha again on Thursday, once the Brazilian's relapse from his right thigh injury was confirmed. In that sense, Rafa joins Robert Lewandowski as an offensive absence.

The Pole tore his left hamstring with his national team and will be out for at least another week, as will Dani Olmo. The player from Terrassa suffered a muscular injury to the soleus muscle in his left leg with Spain and is expected to return against Elche.

Joan García, meanwhile, underwent surgery to treat an injury to his left meniscus. The return of the player from Sallent could be postponed until mid-November. The outlook is much more complex for Gavi.

The midfielder underwent an arthroscopy and, finally, had to have surgery on the internal meniscus of his right knee. Therefore, the '6' will be out for between four and five months, with the tentative date for his return being February 2026. The latest absence is Ter Stegen, who will be out of action, at least, until the end of November or the beginning of December.

Possible Real Madrid lineup against Barcelona

• Starting XI: Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Asencio, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Bellingham, Güler; Vinicius and Mbappé.
• Bench: Lunin (GK), Mestre (GK), Carvajal, Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen, García, Mendy, Ceballos, Brahim, Gonzalo, Rodrygo, Mastantuono, Endrick.
• Injured:  David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger.
• Suspended: None.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, recovers four players for the Clásico against Barça. Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dani Ceballos were included in Xabi Alonso's squad list, but none of them seem to be in a condition to be in the starting XI.

In that sense, it is likely that Xabi Alonso will keep Fede Valverde as right back and Raúl Asencio in the center alongside Éder Militao. Thiabut Courtois will remain in goal, while Álvaro Carreras is a fixture on the left side. In midfield, there are also no doubts about the starting positions of Tchouaméni, Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham.

The only question is whether the Englishman can play further forward, as an attacking midfielder, as well as the Turk on the right. This will depend on whether or not Franco Mastantuono is in the starting lineup. If the Argentinian, who returned from the break with some muscle discomfort, is on the bench, Eduardo Camavinga or Dani Ceballos could accompany Tchouaméni in midfield to free up Arda and Jude. 

In any case, Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé will be Madrid's offensive benchmarks. The Frenchman has 15 goals in 12 games this season, while the Brazilian has 9 direct goal involvements (5G/4A). Rodrygo, Brahim, Gonzalo, and Endrick will be the 'merengues'' available offensive options.

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