El Clásico arrives this Sunday, and it’s a top-of-the-table clash with massive implications. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, sitting second in La Liga, will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu to face league leaders Real Madrid, managed by their own legend, Xabi Alonso.
The match, however, is overshadowed by a severe injury crisis for the Catalans. Barcelona will be without six key players, including the attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, and vice-captain Raphinha.
Despite the major absences, Barcelona President Joan Laporta was defiant. “I am sure that we will win El Clásico,” Laporta told fans earlier in the week. “I see the Barça team is super-motivated.”
This will be the first La Liga Clásico for Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti in June. The pressure is on Alonso to break Barcelona’s recent dominance in this fixture. The reigning La Liga champions (Barcelona) have won the last four consecutive encounters, including a 5-2 Spanish Supercopa final victory in January and a 3-2 Copa del Rey final win in April. The all-time official head-to-head record remains incredibly tight, with Real Madrid clinging to a narrow 105-104 lead in 261 meetings.
In a rare piece of good news for the Catalans, striker Ferran Torres has returned to training after a minor right-foot issue from the international break. With so many stars out, Flick will likely rely heavily on Torres, 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal, and Marcus Rashford to lead the line.
The hosts have their own significant problems. Xabi Alonso is without his two most experienced center-backs, Antonio Rüdiger (thigh injury) and David Alaba (foot injury). This will force Éder Militão to marshal the backline, likely alongside 22-year-old academy product Raúl Asencio or Dean Huijsen.
Adding to the tension is the appointment of referee César Soto Grado. This will be his only second Clásico. His first was Real Madrid’s controversial 3-2 win in the 2023-24 season, a match infamous for Lamine Yamal’s “ghost goal” that was ruled out by VAR, a decision that still angers the Catalan club.
Barcelona will be looking to repeat their last La Liga performance at the Bernabéu—a stunning 4-0 victory on October 26, 2024.
