Lineup, stats and previews, TV channel, online streaming and La Liga predictions
Barcelona can win the LaLiga title with a draw against a struggling Real Madrid side in Sunday’s Clasico.
The Clasico returns to the Camp Nou for the first time since 2023, though it’s a game Barca will enjoy more than Madrid.
Although Barca could break through with a Clasico title win, which they have never done, Madrid enter this game in trouble.
A petition asking the club to sell Kylian Mbappe has reached almost 70 million people, but the biggest concern for the club’s management will be the significant disagreements that are evident in the dressing room.
After Alvaro Carreras revealed that he had a falling out with Antonio Rudiger, the rift between club captain Federico Valverde and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni flared up on Thursday when the two clashed.
Valverde suffered a head injury that required stitches, his injury ruled him out of the Clasico. Both players received fines of €500,000.
No player has been suspended due to this incident, which means that Tchouameni will be available to face the Barca team without the star Lamine Yamal due to a muscle injury he suffered against Celta Vigo last month.
Despite Yamal’s absence, spirits are clearly high in the Barca camp, with coach Hansi Flick praising the harmonious atmosphere in the squad.
“We have high-quality players, world-class players,” said Flick. “The connection between everyone is amazing— [especially between] academy players because they know each other for many years.
“To win a second title with this young team would be unbelievable. The players have done a fantastic job and now we want to win the title, the second in a row, which is amazing – and it’s not common here in Spain.
“I don’t want to talk about Madrid, it’s not my job.
“But for them it’s also the Clásico this weekend. They will still focus 100%, they want to win again. That’s why the Clásico is so important for everyone – for Real and for Barca.”
“It won’t be easy to pick 11 players tomorrow. Almost everyone is back. Everyone is giving an amazing level.
“We want to play our game without focusing on other things, it is clear what we have to do and we want to show it, we are in this situation because we played a good season as a team.”
Barcelona v Real Madrid team news
In addition to Yamal, Andreas Christensen (knee) also remains on the sidelines.
Mbappe and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois should return from injury, but Rodrygo (knee), Arda Guler (hamstring), Eder Militao (hamstring), Dani Carvajal (foot) and Ferland Mendy (thigh) are all out along with Valverde.
Barcelona v Real Madrid predicted line-up
Barcelona: J. Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; E. Garcia, Pedro; Rashford, Gavi, Fermin; Lewandowski.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, F. Garcia; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Pitarch; in Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe.
Where to watch Barca v Real Madrid: TV channel, live streaming online
Sunday’s kick-off will be at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), and will be broadcast live in the UK on Premier Sports 1 and streaming is available on a range of devices via the Premier Sports app.
Premier Sports subscriptions cost £120 per year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.
Barcelona v Real Madrid statistics
- The only time a Clasico decided the title was in the 1931/32 season, when Madrid drew 2-2 on the final day of the campaign to beat Athletic Club for glory.
- None of the last 12 La Liga meetings between the teams have been drawn, the longest run without a finish in a Clasico since the 18 games played between 1977 and 1986 (Madrid won 10, Barcelona eight)
- Barcelona’s 10-game winning streak in La Liga is currently their best run under Hansi Flick and puts the German on course to become the fifth coach in club history to collect 11 consecutive league titles, behind Pep Guardiola (16 and one of 11), Frank Rijkaard (14), Luis Enrique (12 Vilanova (11) and Tito Vilanova (11)
- Flick could join Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde as 21st century managers to win the league in their first two seasons in charge of Barca.
- Victory will make Flick the second Barcelona manager this century to win his first La Liga home game against Madrid, after Guardiola (first three)
- Barca have scored in each of their last 54 La Liga games, dating back to a 1-0 home defeat against Leganes in December 2024.
- Madrid have won eight of their last 12 La Liga meetings with Barcelona (L4), as many as they have won all 32 Clasico games in the competition (W8 D7 L17).
- They have lost their last five La Liga away games (W2 D1), which is as many defeats as they have lost in their last 17 in the competition (W12 D3 L2).
- Alvaro Arbeloa’s first Clasico gives him the opportunity to become the fifth Madrid coach to win his first managerial experience in this game, after Jose Quirante in 1929 (2-1), Carlos Queiroz in 2003 (2-1), Bernd Schuster in 2007 (1-0) and Zinedine Zidane in 2016 (2016)
- Vinicius Junior has eight goals in 23 games against Barcelona in all competitions, only scoring more against Valencia and Osasuna (nine)
Barcelona v Real Madrid prediction
Even without Yamal, it seems impossible to imagine Barca increasing their chances of winning the title against their biggest rivals, who are completely confused. It will be a sight to behold at Camp Nou if they do the job.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid
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