1xBet TV covers the season’s first El Clásico, set for October 25 at Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s phenomenal form
The Catalans are the clear favorites in this match. And it’s not just because they’ll be playing at home, but also because of the level of football Hansi Flick’s side has been displaying. Nine wins in the first nine matchdays of La Liga – a repeat of the record set by Real Madrid in 1968. Back then, Los Blancos secured their ninth win against Barcelona, and now the Blaugrana have the chance to surpass that achievement in this crucial game.
Particular attention will be on Raphinha and Lamine Yamal’s performances. The Brazilian missed the match against Getafe through injury, while in their most recent La Liga showdown against Betis, Flick managed his captain’s workload by bringing him on in the 70th minute. Even so, Raphinha remains the competition’s top scorer with 12 goals.
Lamine Yamal has scored eight goals and provided six assists. This strong start to the season will surely have boosted the Barcelona academy graduate’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Real Madrid: When the absence of a star player can help
In the past couple of weeks, refereeing decisions in Real Madrid matches have become a major talking point. The Madrid club was furious with the decision to send off Vinícius Júnior against Villarreal, and his subsequent four-match suspension sparked even more protests. However, the ban could give Los Blancos a slightly better chance against Barcelona.
The “us against the world” mentality has almost always worked well for José Mourinho’s teams. The Portuguese coach knows how to fire up his players in this kind of atmosphere. Vinícius Júnior’s absence could also allow him to field a more balanced side, especially given the Brazilian’s poor form at the start of the season. The Brazilian and Mbappé tend to operate in the same areas of the pitch and aren’t particularly eager to help on defense.
Against Sevilla, Real Madrid started with a front three of Mbappé, Endrick and Diomande. Madrid won 4-1, although Federico Valverde’s deployment at right-back and Arda Güler’s move into central midfield were just as important to the victory.
Key tactical challenges
The key question is whether Mourinho will opt for an attacking setup. Against Sevilla, Bellingham and Güler both started alongside the three forwards, but against Barcelona, the Portuguese manager could opt for a more defensive midfielder alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni or choose Bernardo Silva, who is comfortable playing under pressure.
The second question is directly related to the first: Will Valverde remain on the right side of the defense? The Uruguayan isn’t particularly fond of playing in that position, but right now he’s better than both Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Barcelona already had Frenkie de Jong on the bench for the match against Betis. The team’s key midfielder in recent years missed the start of the season due to an injury sustained at the Copa del Mundo de Fútbol. The team is performing well even without him, but the Dutchman’s experience certainly wouldn’t hurt in a showdown of this caliber.
Another dilemma for Flick is who to start on the left side of the defense, where João Cancelo and Xavi Espart are competing for a starting spot. The Portuguese player stands out more on offense and has extensive experience in big games, while Espart is more reliable defensively and has greater physical endurance.
What to expect from this match
Predicting the outcome of a clash at this level is hard, but it’s unlikely to be boring. Real Madrid already trails by 6 points, and a loss in Barcelona could spark talk that the league is no longer competitive. The hosts are likely to dictate the tempo, but Real Madrid will need to attack too. Barcelona’s high defensive line should create plenty of opportunities for Madrid’s pacey attackers.
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