Real Madrid vs Barcelona Preview

The Santiago Bernabéu braces itself for one of football’s most storied and fiercely contested rivalries as Real Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Spanish capital on Sunday, 26th October 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 15:15 GMT. This edition of El Clásico arrives at a fascinating juncture, with both sides showcasing contrasting trajectories in their recent outings. Los Blancos have been nothing short of imperious, stringing together four consecutive victories that have reinforced their credentials as La Liga heavyweights. Their most recent triumph came against Juventus in the Champions League, a slender but crucial 1-0 victory that underscored their defensive resilience and clinical edge. Prior to that, Madrid secured victories at Getafe and Villarreal before dismantling Kairat Almaty 5-0 in European competition. The only blemish on their recent record came in a dramatic 5-2 defeat at the hands of city rivals Atlético Madrid, a result that seems increasingly like an anomaly amid their otherwise stellar form.

Barcelona arrive at the Bernabéu riding a wave of confidence themselves, having navigated through a mixed bag of results to position themselves as genuine contenders. The Blaugrana’s recent form has been impressive, with three victories from their last five matches demonstrating their ability to grind out results across multiple competitions. Their most recent outing saw them dismantle Olympiacos 6-1 in the Champions League, a statement performance that highlighted their attacking prowess. They also secured comfortable 2-1 victories against both Girona and Real Sociedad in La Liga, showcasing their ability to control domestic fixtures. However, back-to-back defeats to Sevilla in the league and Paris Saint-Germain in Europe serve as reminders that vulnerability still exists within this Barcelona squad. The head-to-head record between these two titans adds another compelling layer to this encounter—Barcelona have enjoyed considerable success against their greatest rivals in recent meetings, winning all five of the last five clashes, including an emphatic 4-3 victory when they last visited Madrid in May 2025. Real Madrid will be desperate to reverse this trend and reassert their dominance in Spanish football’s defining fixture.

The tactical nuances and individual battles across the pitch promise to deliver enthralling entertainment, with both sides possessing match-winners capable of turning the contest in an instant. The atmosphere inside the Bernabéu is certain to be electric, with every tackle, pass, and shot carrying monumental significance in the ongoing power struggle for Spanish football supremacy. This is more than just three points—it’s pride, passion, and the pursuit of glory in one of world football’s most captivating spectacles. Supporters across the globe can witness this titanic clash unfold, with Spanish viewers able to tune in via Movistar+, DAZN LaLiga, and LaLiga TV Bar HD. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the match is available on Premier Sports 1 and Amazon Prime Video, while American audiences can catch all the action on ESPN2, ESPN App, and ESPN Deportes. Canadian fans have access through TSN+ and Amazon Prime Video, ensuring no one misses this unmissable encounter.

Injured Players:

Real Madrid: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Out), Antonio Rüdiger (Out), Dani Carvajal (Out), Dean Huijsen (Out), Ferland Mendy (Doubtful)

Barcelona: Marc-André ter Stegen (Out), Gavi (Out), Robert Lewandowski (Out), Joan García (Out), Raphinha (Out), Dani Olmo (Out)

Real Madrid will be without key defenders Rüdiger and Carvajal, while Ferland Mendy remains doubtful for this crucial clash. Barcelona face a significant injury crisis with star forwards Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo all ruled out, alongside long-term absentee Gavi and first-choice goalkeeper ter Stegen.

Possible line-ups:

Real Madrid (4-3-3)

Courtois, Asencio, Militão, Tchouaméni, Mbappé, Güler, Mastantuono, Carreras, Bellingham, Júnior, Valverde

Barcelona (4-2-3-1)

Szczęsny, Pedri, Cubarsí, Jong, García, Torres, López, Koundé, Yamal, Rashford, Balde

⚽ Real Madrid – Last 5 Matches

Result	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition
✅	Real Madrid	1-0	Juventus	Champions League
✅	Getafe	0-1	Real Madrid	Spanish LALIGA
✅	Real Madrid	3-1	Villarreal	Spanish LALIGA
✅	Kairat Almaty	0-5	Real Madrid	Champions League
❌	Atlético Madrid	5-2	Real Madrid	Spanish LALIGA

⚽ Barcelona – Last 5 Matches

Result	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition
✅	Barcelona	6-1	Olympiacos	Champions League
✅	Barcelona	2-1	Girona	Spanish LALIGA
❌	Sevilla	4-1	Barcelona	Spanish LALIGA
❌	Barcelona	1-2	Paris Saint-Germain	Champions League
✅	Barcelona	2-1	Real Sociedad	Spanish LALIGA

🔄 Head-to-Head Record – Last 5 Meetings

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition
Barcelona	4-3	Real Madrid	Spanish LALIGA
Barcelona	3-2	Real Madrid	Spanish Copa del Rey
Real Madrid	2-5	Barcelona	Spanish Supercopa
Real Madrid	0-4	Barcelona	Spanish LALIGA
Real Madrid	1-2	Barcelona	Club Friendly

📺 TV Listings / Streaming

Country	Broadcaster
🇪🇸 Spain	Movistar+, DAZN LaLiga, LaLiga TV Bar HD
🇬🇧 Great Britain	Premier Sports 1, Amazon Prime Video
🇺🇸 USA	ESPN2, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes, fuboTV
🇨🇦 Canada	TSN+, Amazon Prime Video
🇫🇷 France	beIN Sports 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
🇩🇪 Germany	DAZN Germany, Amazon Prime Video
🇮🇹 Italy	DAZN Italia
🇵🇹 Portugal	DAZN Portugal, DAZN Eleven 1 Portugal
🇦🇺 Australia	beIN Sports Connect, beIN SPORTS 2
🇯🇵 Japan	DAZN Japan, U-NEXT