Who: Barcelona vs Actual Madrid
What: La Liga, El Clasico
The place: Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain
When: Sunday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
observe: Al Jazeera Sport will carry you all of the build-up and reside updates from 17:00 GMT.
For weeks La Liga leaders Barcelona have been eagerly awaiting Sunday’s El Clasico as an opportunity to stretch the hole between themselves and rivals Actual Madrid to an enormous 9 factors.
Some turbulence within the last method to the conflict at Camp Nou has difficult the image for Hansi Flick’s Spanish champions, who suffered their first defeat of the season at Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League on Tuesday.
In contrast, Actual Madrid have received 4 consecutive matches, thrashing RB Leipzig on Wednesday and beginning to look, for the primary time since Jose Mourinho’s arrival this summer season, like a group.
Ought to Actual come away with a win, it could not solely halve the present six-point hole, however present a much-needed confidence increase for a facet that has misplaced six of the final seven Clasicos.
Mourinho’s return to the fixture will entice essentially the most consideration of all.
Mourinho set for 18th El Clasico
The 63-year-old is a veteran of 27 matches towards Barcelona and 17 El Clasicos on the Actual bench.
Actual Madrid President Florentino Perez first appointed Mourinho as supervisor in 2010 to compete with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, and he’ll hope the Portuguese can wrest the La Liga title again to the Bernabeu for a second time.
Mourinho’s first spell at Actual coincided with arguably essentially the most heated encounters in the modern history of El Clasico, and there will probably be numerous cameras educated on his each transfer at Camp Nou on Sunday.
The Portuguese supervisor received simply as soon as in his first 10 El Clasicos however went unbeaten in his last 5 video games towards Barcelona, recording three victories.
Unfair to match us with Barca, Mourinho says
Flick’s Barca have received back-to-back La Liga titles and lead the highest flight, through which they’re unbeaten, whereas Mourinho arrived this summer season after Madrid went two seasons with no main trophy.
Mourinho highlighted that he has been on the helm only some months compared with Flick, who arrived at Barca in 2024.
“Folks take a look at us like a completed product, however completed merchandise in soccer are tough as a result of they’re by no means completed, … however they take a look at us like we’re in a complicated section of the method,” Mourinho continued.
“We’ve been working for 3 months. Out of which you can take preseason when the gamers have been arriving [back from the World Cup] and the latest worldwide break. Then we’ve been collectively a month-and-a-half, two months.
“That is the beginning of a product. We’re in an preliminary section the place the coach is studying, analysing, little by little defining paths. The gamers are studying in regards to the coach. … Evaluating a group on this state [to more established sides], I believe is unfair.”
Flick praises Mourinho earlier than conflict
The German coach mentioned he anticipated a Madrid facet arriving with “loads of confidence” and praised Mourinho.
“I’ve the best respect. While you’re managing groups on this degree for thus a few years and also you at all times have success, it’s about high quality. He confirmed this at each membership,” Flick advised reporters.
“Each participant from the [German] nationwide group who labored underneath him speaks with an awesome respect. I believe the identical. He’s a colleague, a really, very profitable colleague and an awesome colleague.”
Flick mentioned the 4-2 defeat in Paris by PSG on Tuesday gave his group some clues as to the place they should enhance.
“We analysed this recreation. We did many issues actually good, however we noticed some conditions the place now we have to enhance,” Flick mentioned.
“We now have to develop as a group. Tomorrow we play towards among the best groups on the planet, so it’s an excellent alternative to develop, to problem ourselves, to enhance ourselves and to develop as a group.”
Managers on ‘unbelievable’, ‘distinctive’ El Clasico
Flick: “El Clasico is totally different. It’s the greatest match in our sport, and everybody will watch it. It’s unbelievable. It’s true that we’re enjoying for simply three factors, however the significance of the match goes far past that.”
Mourinho: “We’ve been in an excellent dynamic, profitable video games, enjoying properly, scoring targets, however in El Clasico, it doesn’t matter what you probably did earlier than. It has no affect. El Clasico is exclusive. Usually, the soccer world stops to observe it. Hopefully, it’s an awesome recreation and we win.”
How have Barcelona performed this season?
Barcelona have an ideal file in La Liga with 9 wins from 9 video games. They’re 5 factors clear on the prime of the standings.
Their solely defeat in all competitions this season got here within the final match, through which they fell 4-2 to title holders PSG within the Champions League league section.
How have Actual Madrid performed this season?
Actual are third within the La Liga factors desk, six factors behind leaders and rivals Barca.
They’ve received seven league video games however lost to Atletico Madrid and Real Betis.
Nevertheless, Actual have made an ideal begin within the UCL, registering two wins in as many matches.
Barcelona vs Actual Madrid: Predictions
Opta’s supercomputer has given Barcelona a 54.4 % likelihood of profitable this Clasico whereas Actual have a 26.1 % likelihood. There are 19.5 % odds of a draw.
Total, Barca are given a 77.93 % likelihood of retaining the title this season with Actual tipped to complete second and Atletico third.
Barcelona vs Actual Madrid: Head-to-head
- Matches: 264
- Barcelona wins: 106
- Actual wins: 106
- Attracts: 52
Barcelona vs Actual Madrid: Type information
Barcelona: L-W-W-W-W
Actual Madrid: W-W-W-W-L
The place can I watch Barcelona vs Actual Madrid?
- Spain: Movistar, DAZN
- Center East and North Africa: beIN SPORTS
- South Africa: SportyTV, DAZN
- India: FanCode
- United Kingdom: Disney+, Premier Sports activities
- United States: ESPN, ESPN+
Barcelona’s group information
Midfielder Dani Olmo will miss the Clasico after being dominated out for a few month with a thigh harm.
Different names already on the harm record are Jules Kounde (ankle), Eric Garcia (thigh), Andreas Christensen (thigh) and Roony Bardghji (knee).
Predicted beginning XI:
Joan Garcia (goalkeeper); Xavi Espart, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Joao Cancelo; Marc Bernal, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Anthony Gordon; Raphinha
Actual Madrid’s group information
Vincius Jr will miss the sport on account of a suspension whereas Raul Asencio (leg) and Rodrygo (knee) are each injured.
Predicted beginning XI:
Thibaut Courtois (goalkeeper); Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras; Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga; Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Yan Diomande, Kylian Mbappe
