Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: Top matchups that could decide El Clasico

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will resume their rivalry in a top-to-the-table clash in La Liga 2025-2026 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

The home side will look to bounce back from a frustrating 2024/25 season in which they lost all four meetings with rivals from Catalonia.

Both teams have changed since then and Real Madrid also have a new manager in Xabi Alonso.

Here are five matchups that could determine the outcome of the match:

Racing against Lamine Yamal

Madrid’s summer signing Alvaro Carreras will play his first El Clasico, but he is no stranger to Lamine Yamal. The left-back has already faced Barcelona’s star winger three times and has been widely praised for his performances, as Yamal was unable to score or assist against Benfica.

Vinicius and Mbappé versus Barcelona’s offside trap

Barcelona’s dominance last season was largely down to the perfectly executed offside trap. At the Bernebeu, Madrid was offside twelve times, with Mbappé flagged eight times and Vinicius three times.

Madrid improved as the season progressed, conceding one, seven and five offsides in their next three meetings with Barça. The pace of Mbappé and Vinicius will be crucial for Madrid.

Mbappe vs Szczesny

With Joan Garcia injured, Wojciech Szczesny will be the last man Mbappe tries to deny if he manages to avoid the offside trap. Mbappé is the current top scorer with ten goals in the tournament so far.

Despite the Catalan club’s dominance last season, Mbappé caused Szczesny many problems. He scored five goals in three games against the Polish goalkeeper and also had the chance to send off the shot-stopper for a last-man foul in the Spanish Super Cup.

Güler vs. Pedri

In the rankings of key passes so far this season, Arda Guler and Mbappe are top with 23 each, while Pedri and Vinicius are second with 22 each. Both Pedri and Guler are once again expected to be the playmakers and also contribute defensively.

Published on October 25, 2025