Real Madrid face Barcelona with big stars out for the season’s first El Clásico

Spanish soccer will be enhanced this Saturday, October 26th, when Real Madrid and Barcelona cross swords. The first El Clásico of the campaign arrives with overwhelming expectations, as every minor detail promises to set the pace in this massive duel. At Santiago Bernabéu, La Liga's round #11 promises much more than points at stake-it's about identity, talent, and finely honed tactics. With both teams riding high but facing big challenges and crucial absences, this Saturday's matchup already holds a prime place in the headlines.

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Real Madrid: The Resilient Merengues, But With Key Absences

Despite still being undefeated in La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid goes into this clásico with the reputation for resilience. They proved their mettle with a 5-2 crushing of Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, where Vinícius Júnior took the main stage. Madrid is doing all right and feels themselves. Clásicos are always tight, dramatic-they are soccer's own celebration, and we would love to entertain our fans well, as Ancelotti asserts while bestowing a summary of the atmosphere and confidence in the air of the Madrid team.

But everything is not hunky dory for Madrid. What that means is the lineup does have a number of important absences: Thibaut Courtois, Rodrygo, Carvajal, and Alaba for Saturday's clash, while Brahim Díaz-who has recovered from an adductor muscle injury-could make the squad, though this is not to say it is certain. Ancelotti understands these absences change the dynamics, but he said, "We've prepared to do things well with and without the ball. These are matches where you have to be complete to win, and that's our goal."

Barcelona: The Best Offense With an Audacious Approach

Barcelona travels to Bernabéu in an enviable position. In addition to leading La Liga, the team also has the best offense of the tournament, having scored 33 goals at an average of almost 3.5 per game. Things also went well in the midweek Champions League match, beating Bayern Munich 4-1 to end a drought against the Germans and therefore re-igniting the confidence of the squad. Forward Brazilian Raphinha stole the show with a hat trick-a performance that only fires up Barcelona's offense.

It's very serious for coach Hansi Flick. He will not be able to count on some key players against Real Madrid: Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal are already out, while Christensen, Araújo, and Ferrán Torres will hardly recover in time. Notwithstanding these obstacles, Flick dreams of an optimistic, resilient Barça. "We've got our approach and ideas… and I trust my players because they're well-prepared," said Flick in an expression of trust in the depth and quality of his squad.

Strategies in Play: Ancelotti and Flick Fine-tune the Minute Details

Carlos Ancelotti and Hansi Flick have spoken their minds on the clásico, giving away some of the tactics they come with into this clash. It speaks volumes on Real Madrid's confidence in their team play, as Ancelotti underscored simplicity and clarity: "This is the kind of game where we don't need to say much… in these games, Van Basten used to tell me the strategy was simple: You pass me the ball, and I'll handle the celebration." In a nostalgic touch, Ancelotti sums up the elite game: control, precision, and seizing offensive chances, especially against a Barcelona that's likely to press high.

Meanwhile, Flick focused on pressure and compact teamwork. The German coach in his philosophy mentions intensity and tight lines as a goal aimed at bringing Barça into a cohesive unit and blocking Real Madrid's counterattacks: "We've got to become a more compact unit… What we did was great, especially in the second half against Bayern," Flick emphasizes, underlining the necessity of maintaining possession and exerting pressure.

Who will win El Clásico?

The question everybody does is, however: Who's the favorite in this clásico? Even Ancelotti thinks, "In a game like a Clásico or a derby, it's tough to pick a favorite… it'll depend on the game's dynamics. If you choose a favorite, anything can happen." That's an honest opinion of such an unpredictable game. Both coaches perfectly understand that winning will depend on how well they adapt during the course of the match, seize their chances, and retain emotional balance during those moments of pressure.