There may be nothing fairly like El Clásico. Each time Actual Madrid and Barcelona play one another, there is no such thing as a greater match occurring wherever else within the soccer world.
Sunday’s conflict on the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (stream LIVE at on ESPN+ within the U.S.) will probably be no completely different. Defending LaLiga champions Barcelona arrive within the Spanish capital sitting two factors behind their bitter rivals on the prime of the desk.
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, a legendary midfielder who received the LaLiga title and the UEFA Champions League throughout his 5 years as a participant for Los Blancos, will probably be experiencing his first conflict in opposition to Barcelona from the dugout. He will probably be doing so with star striker Kylian Mbappé in prime type.
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Barça boss Hansi Flick claimed a clear sweep over Madrid final season, profitable all 4 of the matchups in his first season in cost. Younger phenom Lamine Yamal was among the many stars over the course of these wins, and he might as soon as once more be a match-winner in Madrid.
ESPN’s Alex Kirkland and Sam Marsden run via the shape, all-time head-to-head, newest crew information and key clashes forward of the 262nd version of El Clásico.
All-time head-to-head: Barça can draw degree with a win
Actual Madrid have traditionally maintained a bonus for more often than not of their head-to-head matchup with Barcelona, relationship to the Nineteen Thirties. Since then, each golf equipment have had durations of sustained dominance in conferences with their rivals — Madrid within the Nineteen Sixties, and Barça within the Nineteen Seventies and ’80s. However the steadiness began to shift prior to now 20 years, as Madrid’s head-to-head lead narrowed, beginning with the Pep Guardiola period at Barça. Madrid posted just one win in 14 conferences in all competitions between 2008 and 2012, a spell that included legendary 6-2 and 5-0 wins within the fixture for Guardiola’s crew, in addition to a triumph in a UEFA Champions League semifinal.
Since then, it has been extra even — Barça had been unbeaten in seven Clásicos from 2017 to 2019, earlier than Madrid went six undefeated between 2019 and 2022 — however Barça’s 4 victories final season go away them on the point of matching Madrid within the all-time head-to-head. — Kirkland
What occurred final season?
Barcelona, barely unexpectedly, dominated Madrid final season. There was uncertainty surrounding the Blaugrana initially of the marketing campaign, with nobody actually certain how new coach Flick would do with a younger squad. Madrid, in the meantime, on the again of profitable LaLiga and the Champions League, had added Kylian Mbappé to their squad.
However as usually is the case on this fixture, logic did not prevail. Barça had been very good in assault, racking up 16 objectives in 4 victories in opposition to Madrid as they received each league conferences en path to the title, in addition to closing wins within the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercopa. At instances, it felt as if they may rating at will, particularly within the closing Clásico of the season, which successfully clinched the league title. After Mbappé had given Madrid a 2-0 lead inside quarter-hour, Barça replied with 4 unanswered objectives earlier than the break.
That was very a lot a theme of Barça’s wins: numerous objectives in brief spurts. In addition they scored 4 within the second half on the Bernabéu final October, and 4 within the first half within the 5-2 Supercopa win in January. It ended 16-7 to Barça on combination over the course of the 4 fascinating and vastly entertaining video games. Barça at the moment are aiming to win 5 straight editions of the Clásico for less than the second time in membership historical past — 2008-10, below Guardiola, was the one different time. — Marsden
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How are they doing this season?
REAL MADRID
REAL MADRIDThe sensation is that Madrid are an enchancment on final season’s classic, however they’re nonetheless a piece in progress. There was a notable change in the best way the crew performs out of possession — with extra depth, urgent excessive to win the ball again, and a extra cohesive defensive form — whereas the opposite massive plus has been the sensational type of Mbappé, who has scored in 10 of his 11 membership video games this season. Vinícius Júnior is getting nearer to his finest type, and whereas the midfield nonetheless hasn’t fairly jelled, Arda Güler is now a invaluable inventive affect, already offering 5 assists for Mbappé this marketing campaign.
Madrid’s document in LaLiga is spectacular, with eight wins out of 9, however the recreation they did not win was a 5-2 thumping to Atlético Madrid. And there is nonetheless the nagging feeling that within the “massive” video games — that Madrid derby, and the FIFA Membership World Cup semifinal in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain in the summertime — Alonso’s crew has suffered stage fright. — Kirkland
BARCELONA
BARCELONAFlick has acknowledged Barcelona aren’t but hitting the heights of final season. He has bemoaned poor positioning and a drop within the depth of the urgent as two of the most important elements within the crew’s drop-off. Accidents have additionally performed a component, with Raphinha, Yamal, Fermín López, Gavi, Joan García, Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski amongst these to sit down out stretches of the season. That mentioned, outcomes haven’t been that dangerous. They’ve received two out of three within the Champions League, dropping solely to Paris Saint-Germain by way of a late purpose, and are solely two factors behind leaders Madrid in LaLiga.
Performances haven’t all the time been as encouraging. Rayo Vallecano might have beat them earlier within the season, Sevilla scored 4 in opposition to them and Girona ought to arguably have taken not less than a degree final weekend. However snatching a late win in opposition to Girona after which beating Olympiacos 6-1 in midweek will give the gamers a confidence enhance heading to Madrid. López is again and looking out sharp, Yamal has featured prior to now two video games after recovering from a groin downside, and Marcus Rashford has settled in nicely. — Marsden
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Each groups have a number of damage doubts. What’s the newest?
REAL MADRID
There’s optimism that Madrid’s points at proper again — the place Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal have each been out injured, and Federico Valverde has reluctantly been drafted in — are quickly to be solved, with each Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal pushing for a return in time for the Clásico. On the opposite facet of the protection, Ferland Mendy can also be getting near full health, though the Clásico would possibly come too quickly for him, and Álvaro Carreras is the starter at left again anyway.
At heart again, Dean Huijsen ought to be obtainable to companion with Éder Militão, as Antonio Rüdiger is anticipated to be out till December, and David Alaba was substituted at halftime in opposition to Getafe final weekend as a precaution. In midfield, Dani Ceballos has a muscular downside, and is unlikely to be match to face Barça.. — Kirkland
BARCELONA
Joan García, Marc-André ter Stegen, Gavi, Olmo and Lewandowski will all sit out the sport, however there’s some constructive information for Barça. Yamal and López each returned to motion final weekend, with the latter then scoring a surprising hat trick along with his weaker left foot in opposition to Olympiacos. Ferran Torres returned to the bench in opposition to the Greek facet. Although he did not play, he ought to be prepared this weekend. Raphinha can also be again in coaching and is more likely to be an possibility within the second half. — Marsden
Key clashes
Kylian Mbappé vs. Barcelona’s excessive line: Who can overlook the final time these two groups met on the Bernabéu, nearly precisely a 12 months in the past? Barcelona ended up profitable the match 4-0, however all 4 of these objectives got here within the second half. Earlier than the break, it might have been a really completely different story, as Madrid went toe-to-toe with Barça, however Mbappé was caught offside six instances (his recreation whole of eight was a profession excessive) and was unable to make the breakthrough.
Since then, a lot has modified: Mbappé seems a unique participant, supremely assured and cozy in a Actual Madrid shirt, and he has Güler behind him offering the help. Barça, in the meantime, look nothing just like the well-oiled machine of Flick’s first season, and there isn’t any Iñigo Martínez marshalling the protection. There might be wealthy pickings if Madrid and Mbappé get it proper this time. — Kirkland
Lamine Yamal vs. Álvaro Carreras: Despite the fact that Barça received each video games in Lisbon in opposition to Benfica final season (5-4 and 1-0), Yamal didn’t have all issues go his means within the matchup with Carreras. The Spanish left again was one of many gamers who did the very best job of containing Yamal, who lastly scored in opposition to Benfica within the third assembly between the groups, when Carreras was suspended.
Yamal is the type of participant who’s additionally motivated by particular person battles. The concept he must show himself in opposition to an opponent fuels him, and he will probably be able to run at Carreras. He’s averaging 14.8 take-ons per 90 minutes and 6.4 profitable take-ons per 90 this season in LaLiga, each of that are essentially the most in Europe’s prime 5 leagues (minimal 300 minutes). He additionally, as Flick identified this week, practically all the time steps up within the massive video games. His three profession objectives in opposition to Madrid are greater than he has scored in opposition to some other crew.
With Raphinha not match to begin and Lewandowski and Olmo absent, a big a part of Barça’s hopes will once more rely upon {the teenager} delivering. — Marsden
Predictions
The hole between the 2 groups final season was important, if not all the time as nice because the scorelines of their 4 conferences prompt. Madrid look fairly a bit higher than final season, whereas Barça are worse. Madrid will win 3-1. — Kirkland
Madrid have regarded extra secure but additionally have their very own issues defensively. Alonso’s largest video games in cost thus far — in opposition to PSG and Atlético — have led to defeats and I anticipate Barça to enhance on what we’ve seen in current weeks. In the end, with solely two factors between the groups within the league, a draw may not be deemed the worst outcome for both facet if it is tied late on. It will likely be a 2-2 draw. — Marsden
Odds (by way of ESPNBET)
Actual Madrid: +105
Barcelona: +210
Draw: +300