Barcelona have won each of the last four Clásicos, after Real Madrid had won four successive meetings between the two beforehand.
Thus, Barça are seeking five successive victories over their fiercest rivals for the first time since 2010, while the Catalan giants are aiming to win back-to-back visits to the Bernabéu for the first time in six years.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona preview
Last season, in an unprecedented turn of events, Barcelona won all four Clásicos, scoring 16 goals, en route to a domestic treble, beating their biggest rivals in both the finals of the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa. This year though, has there started to be a powershift in Spanish football?
Well, nine matches into this La Liga season, it is Real Madrid who lead the way at the top. Xabi Alonso has won eight of nine league matches since arriving as manager in the summer, most-recently seeing his side battle to a 1-0 victory over nine-man Getafe at the Coliseum last Sunday night. Kylian Mbappé, who else, the match-winner. However, one could argue los Blancos failed their only serious test so far, demolished 5-2 by Atlético Madrid in September's derby at the Metropolitano, a hammering that was even more emphatic than that scoreline may suggest.
On the flip side, on Wednesday, los Merengues did make it three wins out of three in the Champions League. Following victories over Marseille and Kairat, Real Madrid, just about, overcame Juventus 1-0 at the Bernabéu this week; Vinícius Júnior's attempt thwacking the post, with Jude Bellingham on hand to turn home the rebound. Now though, this is the biggest game of the season, or any season for that matter, so can los Blancos propel themsleves five points clear at the top with a win?
Meantime, champions Barcelona have wobbled in recent weeks. Before the international break, Hansi Flick's side were hammered 4-1 by Sevilla, conceding twice late on at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, after Robert Lewandowski had squandered an opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot. Then, last Saturday, Barça appeared set to drop yet more points when struggling Girona visited Montjuïc, the score 1-1 going into injury time, only for Ronald Araújo to snatch victory at the death. This leaves them two points behind the leaders, having drawn with Rayo Vallecano at Vallecas back in August.
Barcelona are also not flawless in the Champions League, defeated 2-1 when holders Paris Saint-Germain came to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys earlier this month. Nevertheless, Flick's side very much got back on track on Tuesday, annihilating ten-man Olympiacos 6-1 in Catalonia; Fermín López the hat-trick hero, Lamine Yamal converting a penalty and Marcus Rashford striking twice.
As already outlined, Clásico victories, and high-scoring ones at that, were integral to Barcelona's treble triumph last season, but they may travel to the Spanish capital as underdogs this time round. Goals should be guaranteed at the Bernabéu come Sunday afternoon, and the world will be watching, as everyone always is when these two juggernauts meet, but who will prevail in el Clásico?
Real Madrid vs Barcelona head-to-head record
- Matches Played: 261.
- Real Madrid Wins: 105. Draws: 52. Barcelona Wins: 104.
Real Madrid team news
Xabi Alonso is enduring a defensive injury crisis right now, given that Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy are all sidelined.
So, as was the case on Wednesday, Raúl Asencio will continue to partner Éder Militão at the heart of defence, with Fede Valverde, begrudgingly, filling in at right-back.
Further forward, Brahim Díaz and Vinícius Júnior came into attack against Juventus, but it would be no surprise if either Franco Mastantuono or Rodrygo or both got the nod this time. Mid-week scorer Jude Bellingham will keep his place in midfield at the expense of Eduardo Camavinga.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Barcelona: (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Militão, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Güler, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappé, Vinícius.
Real Madrid player to watch vs Barcelona
Kylian Mbappé's late winner against Getafe last Sunday takes his tally to 15 goals already this season, thereby averaging one every 70 minutes. To date, the Frenchman has scored 11 goals in eight meetings with Barcelona, including five in his last three Clásico, notably bagging a hat-trick during a 4-3 defeat at Montjuïc in May, so will he be on the winning side in this fixture for the first time?
Barcelona team news
Hansi Flick meantime is down to his third-choice goalkeeper. Joan García and Marc-André ter Stegen are sidelined so, as he did throughout last season, Wojciech Szczęsny will deputise.
Out-field too, Barcelona are without Andreas Christensen, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, but Lamine Yamal is back, starting the last two matches following a groin issue.
In the absence of Raphinha and Lewandowski, Marcus Rashford, scorer of a brace against Olympiacos, will likely be deployed on the left, with Ferran Torres leading the line. Frenkie de Jong will also return to midfield, having been rested in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Real Madrid: (4-3-3): Szczęsny; Koundé, García, Cubarsí, Balde; de Jong, Pedri, Fermín López; Lamine Yamal, Rashford, Torres.
Barcelona player to watch vs Real Madrid
Lamine Yamal's spot-kick this week was his 28th goal for Barça already, scoring during three of the four Clásicos last season, registering two assists in the other, so will the 18 year old be the difference again?
Real Madrid vs Barcelona prediction
As mentioned, the Clásico guarantees goals, but we can't split these two teams, hence why we're forecasting a draw. One thing is for certain, you don't want to miss this: Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona FAQs - La Liga
How to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona in La Liga on TV channel?
Real Madrid vs Barcelona in La Liga will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: Premier Sports 1
- USA: ESPN2
- Canada: TSN3
How to watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona in La Liga on live streaming?
Real Madrid vs Barcelona in La Liga will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: Premier Sports Player
- USA: ESPN+
- Canada: TSN+
What is the date and kick-off time for Real Madrid vs Barcelona in La Liga?
Real Madrid vs Barcelona takes place on Sunday 26 October 2025, with kick off at 15:15 (GMT), 11:15 (EDT) & 8:15 (PDT).