Barcelona vs Real Madrid: La Liga preview, predictions, team news and TV info

Barcelona have won six of the last seven Clásicos, despite four successive defeats against Real Madrid immediately beforehand. The last 20 meetings between these two heavyweights have produced 81 goals, meaning one is scored every 23 minutes on average.

So, ahead of this biggest game in club football, check out our preview, predictions, team news and TV info.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid match info

Date: Sunday 25 October 2026.

Kick off times: 9pm (local) and 3pm (ET)

Competition: La Liga matchday 10

Venue: Camp Nou - Catalonia

How to watch: ESPN+ (USA), Movistar+ (Spain) and Premier Sports (UK).

How can I watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid?

Barcelona vs Real Madrid match preview

When Real Madrid last visited Camp Nou in May, Barcelona's 2-0 victory secured the club's 29th La Liga title, lifting the trophy after full time. While this is only the tenth match of the new season, a similar outcome would represent a gigantic step towards a third successive title for the Catalan giants.

So far in La Liga, Hansi Flick's side have won nine out of nine, scoring a ridiculous 39 goals. Last weekend, the Blaugrana added another five, this time swatting aside Real Betis 5-2 at La Cartuja.

This makes Barça just the second side in La Liga history to start a season with nine successive victories, after Real Madrid 58 years ago. Never before in Primera División history has a team won ten out of ten, but that could be about to change.

However, it was proven that this team are beatable, with Barça defeated 4-2 by PSG in a Champions League thriller in the French capital. Nevertheless, it is clear that Flick's focus is on this game, so can Barcelona move nine points clear of their rivals?

Well, Real Madrid simply cannot allow that to happen. Away defeats at Betis and Atlético Madrid so far in La Liga have perhaps exposed los Merengues' limitations, but they head to Catalonia in red-hot form. On Wednesday night, Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé and Yan Diomandé were all on target during a 4-1 demolition of RB Leipzig at the Bernabéu.

This was a fourth successive victory for José Mourinho's team, also scoring four during wins over Roma and Sevilla beforehand. However, los Blancos are yet to prove they are capable of challenging for the biggest honours since Mourinho's return. Well, they could change that, and more, at Camp Nou on Sunday night. This Clásico guarantees goal, so this is not a match to miss.

Barcelona team news

Rodri will return to Barcelona's lineup, having been left on the bench in Paris, very much with this game in mind. Fermín López could also return in midfield while, at the back, Hansi Flick remains without Andreas Christensen, Eric García and Jules Koundé.

In attack, Raphinha's return to fitness is a major boost, set to start alongside Anthony Gordon and Lamine Yamal, perhaps forming the best front three on the planet.

Real Madrid team news

This is the second of Vinícius Júnior's four-match suspension, but it is perhaps not a coincidence that Real Madrid have looked better in his absence. Understudy Yan Diomandé has scored three goals and registered three assists across his last four matches, so will start in attack.

Elsewhere, José Mourinho has moved Fede Valverde to right-back, despite the presence of Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold, this to allow Bernardo Silva to start in midfield. At the back, Mourinho has a decision to make; Antonio Rüdiger partnered Dean Huijsen on Wednesday, but Ibrahima Konaté is expected to displace one or the other here.

Predicted Line-ups

Barcelona predicted lineup: García; Espart, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Rodri, Pedri, Fermín; Lamine Yamal, Gordon, Raphinha.

Real Madrid predicted lineup: Courtois; Valverde, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Tchouaméni, Silva, Bellingham; Güler; Diomandé, Mbappé.

Score prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid

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