Barcelona vs Real Madrid takes on extra weight this Sunday at Camp Nou, where the hosts stand one win away from La Liga history. A 10th straight victory to open the league season would break the record set by Real Madrid themselves back in 1968-69, and Jose Mourinho’s side arrive determined to wreck the party.
El Clasico (Credits: BBC Sport)
Barcelona head into El Clasico smarting from a 4-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, a result that has handed Real the perfect opening. Mourinho, however, has been quick to play down his own team’s recent form, insisting that two 4-1 wins over Sevilla and RB Leipzig will count for nothing once the whistle blows in this fixture.
“We are in a good dynamic, we play well, we score goals, but the Clasico is different. What we have done before has no influence,” Mourinho said. “There are other important matches in the world, but this is the only Clasico, the world stops.”
El Clasico: Yamal vs Cucurella, Cubarsi vs Mbappe
The match is packed with star power. Six of this year’s 30 Ballon d’Or nominees could feature: Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, Rodri and Lamine Yamal, and Real’s trio of Marc Cucurella, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.
The individual battles alone are worth the ticket. Cucurella could find himself trying to stop his Spain team-mate Yamal down Barcelona’s right flank, while centre-back Cubarsi may once again face Mbappe, renewing a rivalry that last flared in Spain’s 2-0 World Cup semi-final win over France.
Mbappe, in particular, arrives in frightening form, having scored 12 goals in 12 appearances this season. In midfield, Rodri against Bellingham promises another fascinating clash between two of the game’s leading players.
Can Mourinho’s Real Madrid Stop Barcelona’s Record Run?
Real sit six points behind leaders Barcelona in third, and Mourinho has been honest about where his team stands. “We’ve been together for three months if you take away pre-season and international breaks,” he said. “The players are still getting to know me and the way I do things.”
He also dismissed the idea of tearing up his plans just to contain Yamal. “He’s a great player, we respect great players. We aren’t going to completely change things. We won’t forget the way we do things,” Mourinho added.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, meanwhile, believes his players have recovered from the PSG defeat and are ready. “El Clasico is different, the best match our sport has to offer. Everyone will be watching. You can only win three points, but it’s so much more than that,” he said.
Flick admitted his side must fix the defensive weaknesses PSG exposed. Barcelona have been prolific, scoring 50 goals in 12 games, but they have also conceded 15, and their high defensive line will be tested by Mbappe’s pace. Vinicius Jr will miss the game through suspension, but Flick still expects a confident Madrid side full of attacking quality.
Real’s best chance may lie in disrupting Barcelona’s possession and exploiting the space behind them when they commit players forward. If they succeed, they end a record chase at the first hurdle. If they fail, Barcelona make history in front of their fiercest rivals, which would make the achievement even sweeter.
Also Read: Ballon d’Or 2026 Campaigns: Yamal the Favourite, Mbappe the Lobbyist, and a Record 10 PSG Nominees and Transfer Rumours: Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona Battle for Brighton Defender Luka Vuskovic
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
