The season`s final clash between rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid is scheduled for Sunday. This match is poised to significantly impact the outcome of the La Liga title race. Barcelona enters the game with a four-point advantage over Real Madrid at the top of the standings, giving them a strong position to claim the title with only four fixtures remaining. Coupled with their three victories against Real Madrid earlier this season, Barcelona appears to be the favored side for Sunday`s encounter. However, their recent narrow 7-6 aggregate defeat to Inter in the UEFA Champions League semifinals raises questions about their readiness for another major challenge.
The margin separating the top two teams in La Liga is just narrow enough to keep alive the possibility of Real Madrid securing a win on Sunday. Such a result would ignite a frantic sprint to the finish line for both clubs. This game holds immense importance for Los Blancos as well, as winning the La Liga title represents their last chance to avoid ending the season without silverware, particularly noteworthy in what is widely expected to be Carlo Ancelotti`s final season in charge.
Ahead of this highly anticipated edition of El Clasico, here`s what you should know:
Match Details
- Location: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys — Barcelona, Spain
- TV: ESPN
- Odds: Barcelona -110; Draw +300; Real Madrid +240
Last Encounter
These two rivals met just two weeks prior in the Copa del Rey final in Seville, a dramatic match that Barcelona won 3-2. Pedri put Barcelona ahead in the 28th minute, but second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni gave Real Madrid the lead by the 77th minute. Just seven minutes later, Ferran Torres equalized, sending the game into extra time. The decisive goal came with only four minutes left, scored by Jules Kounde. The match concluded with controversy and clashes, as several Real Madrid players disputed a refereeing decision. Jude Bellingham, Lucas Vazquez, and Antonio Rudiger were all shown red cards. Rudiger notably received a lengthy ban following the incident.
Barcelona`s Perspective
Barcelona`s aspiration of winning a treble for the first time in a decade ended with their disappointing Champions League exit. This raises a key question leading into Sunday`s Clasico: Are they mentally prepared for another high-stakes game? Speaking at his press conference on Saturday, coach Hansi Flick indicated that his team has successfully refocused on the upcoming task after the setback in Milan.
“After the defeat in Milan, everyone knows it`s not easy immediately after the match, but we`re doing great,” Flick stated. “We discussed the situation and our objectives for the next two weeks. We have four matches ahead. Naturally, the Clasico tomorrow is extremely important to demonstrate our capabilities once more. Everyone understands that in a Clasico, you must perform at your absolute peak. We aim to be proactive, exhibit intensity on the field, and dominate as is our usual style. We acknowledge Real is a fantastic team, but we have the advantage of playing at home with our supporters. Real will make every effort to win, as will we. I`m not currently concerned with the league standings. We have to win. We want to win. This defines our mindset and approach. That`s how we will commence the match. Our focus is solely on this game.”
Just as in recent weeks, Barcelona will likely face some personnel shortages. Robert Lewandowski returned from a brief injury earlier in the week, and the status may be similar for Alejandro Balde.
“For them to start, I don`t believe the timing is right,” Flick commented. “Ferran [Torres] up front and Gerard [Martin] at left-back have been performing very well. Witnessing Gerard`s performance in a Champions League semifinal is truly impressive. Marc Casado is also available. However, we must manage the players carefully. We have three more league fixtures after the Madrid match. Tomorrow, they are more likely candidates to come on in the second half.”
Real Madrid`s Perspective
For several weeks now, Real Madrid has faced persistent questions regarding Carlo Ancelotti`s future. Reports suggest the Italian manager might depart the club, potentially to take charge of the Brazil national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, Ancelotti asserted that this uncertainty will not affect his players` preparations for El Clasico.
“Preparing for these matches isn`t overly complicated because there`s no need to motivate the players,” Ancelotti said during his Saturday press conference. “You just need to provide them with the clearest tactical ideas for the game. The external situation hasn`t impacted us at all this week. We feel good and very confident. No issues.”
Ancelotti also took the opportunity to commend Xabi Alonso, the former Real Madrid player and outgoing Bayer Leverkusen coach who is widely tipped to be Ancelotti`s successor in the near future.
“I`ve read that he`s leaving Leverkusen, where he`s accomplished fantastic work,” Ancelotti stated. “All paths are open to him, as he has demonstrated himself to be among the top coaches globally.”
Anticipated Lineups
Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Gerard Martin, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Lucas Vazquez, Aurelien Tchouameni, Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia, Dani Ceballos, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona: At just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal is increasingly becoming the standout player for Barcelona, proving central to their success. While Hansi Flick`s side might be without Robert Lewandowski for significant portions of this match, recent weeks have reinforced that Yamal is fully capable of spearheading the team`s attack, both by creating opportunities for teammates and scoring himself. He has accumulated impressive goal and assist tallies this season, including contributions in previous Clasicos. His impact is particularly valuable given Barcelona`s defensive frailties; they often rely on their attacking output to outscore opponents, a strategy that has worked against Real Madrid this campaign.
Key Storyline
Can Barcelona maintain their position? Barcelona`s inherent talent is evident, as is their favorable record against a somewhat underperforming Real Madrid this season. The primary question is whether their Champions League elimination will disrupt their momentum. However, that`s not the only uncertainty surrounding Sunday`s Clasico. Inter`s midweek victory may not have exposed new defensive weaknesses for Barcelona – they`ve been apparent throughout the season – but Inter was perhaps the first opponent to truly capitalize on them effectively. This scenario technically presents an opportunity for Real Madrid, who possess formidable attackers like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, seemingly well-equipped to exploit a vulnerable defense. Yet, this is where Real Madrid has struggled this season; their `Galacticos` era has shown imbalance, resulting in a less clinical final product than expected. The final Clasico of the season offers both teams a chance to make a definitive statement, but it remains entirely possible that neither side has sufficient energy left to truly dominate.
Match Prediction
It is certainly plausible for Real Madrid to reverse their recent head-to-head struggles against Barcelona, especially considering the high stakes involved. However, Barcelona`s defensive issues are mirrored by their opponent`s; Carlo Ancelotti`s side will be missing Antonio Rudiger, likely forcing Aurelien Tchouameni into an improvised center-back role alongside the relatively inexperienced Raul Ascensio, which could complicate their defensive setup.
Even if defensive vulnerabilities cancel each other out, Barcelona still appears to have the edge in attack. Regardless of the individual talent on Madrid`s roster, they haven`t consistently managed to make their attacking unit function cohesively yet. Conversely, Barcelona has proven capable of scoring goals even without Lewandowski recently. As long as they are mentally prepared for the challenge, they should be able to showcase their attacking strengths once more on Sunday. We predict a scoreline of Barcelona 3, Real Madrid 1.
