Real Madrid - Barcelona: Deciding Through the Super Classic

Real Madrid is currently in excellent form. Under coach Xabi Alonso’s guidance, Los Blancos have won 11 of their last 12 matches across all competitions, including a recent resilient 1-0 victory over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round.

In La Liga, their impressive performance has secured the royal team a firm hold on first place, two points ahead of their fierce rivals Barcelona. The 2-5 loss to Atletico Madrid is the only defeat Real Madrid has suffered under Xabi Alonso since he took charge last summer.

This season, Los Blancos appear more consistent, but defensive issues remain. Big matches under coach Xabi Alonso, such as those against PSG and Atletico Madrid, have ended in losses for Real. Therefore, many predict that Barcelona will deliver a competitive game against the hosts.

Real Madrid will face their first El Clasico of the season, a true test of their championship ambitions. A win would not only reinforce their lead but also affirm their dominance in Spain.

The White Falcons have reasons to be confident against their great rivals Barca, as they play at the Bernabeu fortress, where Real boasts a streak of 10 consecutive wins.

Kylian Mbappe’s scoring form is a key asset for Real. The French forward has netted 15 goals and provided 2 assists this season. Among players in Europe’s top five leagues, only Harry Kane (20 goals) has scored more than Mbappe this season. Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the last El Clasico, although Madrid lost 3-4 to Barcelona in May. He has scored a total of 11 goals in 8 matches against Barcelona across all competitions, including 5 goals in 4 El Clasico games, but has yet to win any of those four encounters. This is also the highest number of goals he has scored against a single club outside France in his career.

Barcelona is also showing stable form under Hansi Flick. The Catalan team has won 10, drawn 1, and lost only 2 of their last 13 La Liga matches.

Notably, Barca performs excellently away from home, with 11 wins, 1 draw, and just 1 loss in their last 13 away games. Currently, Barcelona trails Real Madrid by 2 points in the La Liga standings after a 1-4 defeat to Sevilla in their most recent away match.

Since the loss to Sevilla, Barca has beaten Girona 2-1 in La Liga and crushed Olympiacos 6-1 in the Champions League.

In this match, English striker Rashford is eager to experience his first El Clasico. The forward leads his team in contributions this season with 5 goals and 4 assists.

Under coach Flick, Barca’s style is high pressing and pushing the team forward to catch opponents offside from midfield. This bold tactic has allowed them to dominate weaker teams repeatedly. However, when facing teams capable of quick counterattacks, Barca often exposes deadly defensive weaknesses. This style will be a double-edged sword against Real Madrid.

Unfortunately for Barca, Hansi Flick will not be on the sidelines for this El Clasico. The German coach is suspended for one match due to his reaction to referees during the Girona game. His absence during this crucial clash will significantly affect the visitors’ tactical adjustments.

The match between Real Madrid and Barcelona will kick off at 22:15 on October 26. It can be affirmed that Hansi Flick’s team poses the biggest challenge to Real Madrid this season.

Projected starting lineups for both teams

Real Madrid: Courtois, Carreras, Asencio, Militao, Valverde, Bellingham, Tchouameni, Guler, Vinicius Jr, Mastantuono, Mbappe

Barca: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Garcia, Balde, Pedri, De Jong, Yamal, Lopez, Rashford, Torres