The first Clásico of the season will take place on Sunday, October 26th.
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La Liga will give us the first Clásico of the season on Sunday, October 26th, as Real Madrid welcomes Barcelona to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu for a 4:15pm CET (11:15am ET) kick-off.
The game will be Xabi Alonso’s first Clásico as a coach, having been involved in 20 as a player, recording five victories, six draws and nine defeats. He will come up against a Barcelona side led by Hansi Flick, who is suspended from the touchline after being sent off against Girona but remains unbeaten in the fixture.
The tactical battle will be an intriguing one which is set to be defined by key battles between some of the biggest names in Spanish soccer.
Key battles in El Clásico
Álvaro Carreras vs Lamine Yamal
Arguably the battle which will draw the most attention of all. Lamine Yamal’s comments in the media, accusing Real Madrid of “stealing” games, means that he will be on the receiving end of the wrath of the Bernabéu, and he’ll also be coming up against an old foe.
Carreras first caught the eye of many in Spain while at Benfica when he effectively silenced the Barcelona winger in the Champions League last season, though he was previously the man charged with stopping the teenager when he scored his first La Liga goal against Granada in October 2023.
The duo aren’t short of pace or physicality, but this battle is likely to come down to technical ability and the support Carreras gets from further forward. If he’s left isolated, he’ll need to be perfect to stop Yamal.
Vinícius Júnior vs Eric García… or Jules Koundé
Three assists in Clásicos last season shows the influence that Vinícius Júnior could have on this fixture, and he’s set to come up against one of Barcelona’s reserve options. With defender Jules Koundé not fully fit. The Frenchman has made the squad, but is struggling and may not be chosen from the start.
Koundé has been effective against the Brazilian, his good reading of the game and strength enabling him to halt the winger, but this will be one of the most demanding games of the season which could mean that Eric García is chosen ahead of him.
García has started the season superbly, featuring in all nine fixtures for Hansi Flick’s team, but has come unstuck when facing the fastest players. Not blessed with pace, García’s composure will be needed at its best.
Kylian Mbappé vs Wojciech Szczesny
Injury-hit Barcelona won’t only be relying on a back-up option at right-back, but also in goal, where Wojciech Szczesny will continue to step in for the injured Joan García. The Polish shotstopper is yet to keep a clean sheet this season, having conceded nine goals in just five matches since replacing the summer signing.
Kylian Mbappé, on the other hand, is in fine form. The Frenchman has started the season in superb shape, and has only failed to score in one of nine La Liga games so far this campaign, with 10 goals scored in total.
Ranking third for expected goals per 90 in La Liga with 0.91, he is highly likely to get chances, Szczesny will need all of his experience if he is to find a way to shut out La Liga’s most lethal forward.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/samleveridge/2025/10/26/three-key-battles-that-will-decide-real-madrid-vs-barcelona/
