The biggest rivalry in La Liga takes center stage on Sunday afternoon when Real Madrid host Barcelona in the 262nd edition of El Clásico.
In front of a sea of white shirts at the Santiago Bernabéu, the two goliaths of Spanish football will lock horns in the most anticipated match of the early 2025–26 season. The defending La Liga champions, led by Lamine Yamal, are set to face off with their bitter rivals, powered by Kylian Mbappé.
Recent results paint the heavyweight battle as a lopsided affair, with Barcelona walking away with four victories in four matches against Real Madrid last season. Hansi Flick’s men dominated their bitter rivals, scoring 16 goals across all competitions and claiming a domestic treble at the expense of Los Blancos.
Yet Real Madrid look like a different team under Xabi Alonso, one that sits atop the La Liga standings thanks to eight wins in nine league matches. The Catalans are only two points behind, though, which means this weekend’s Clásico could be the first large swing in the race for the Spanish crown should either side secure a victory.
Here is guide to the La Liga bout.
