League leaders Real Madrid welcome second-placed FC Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday for a highly anticipated Clásico. Los Blancos are looking to end their horror run of five consecutive competitive defeats against the Catalans, but are in strong form with eight wins from nine league games. They are led by Kylian Mbappé, who tops the scoring charts with ten league goals. Despite a long injury list, Barcelona are in a good position with 22 points and are riding high after their recent 6-1 win over Olympiakos. Real are missing Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy in defense, while David Alaba is injured; FC Barcelona are missing Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Marc-André ter Stegen, and Joan García, and coach Hansi Flick will only be able to watch from the stands after receiving a red card. Madrid will need to improve in the first half, as they have trailed at the break in four of the last five Clásicos, although Barcelona’s weakened defense could favor counterattacks. In the last five head-to-head matches, Barcelona has won all encounters with a goal difference of 16-7, and all games have ended with over 2.5 goals, which suggests a high-scoring game despite Madrid being the favorites.
- Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
- Date and time: October 26, 2025, 4:15 p.m.
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 10)
The statistics clearly point to a high-scoring game: Barcelona has scored in each of its last five games and has also conceded goals in each of those games; Real Madrid has scored in every game this season, and in 80% of those games, both teams scored. Despite absences, both teams have strong offensive players, with Mbappé standing out with ten goals this season, and the weakened defenses on both sides increase the likelihood of many goals. Instead of pure result bets with home win odds of around 1.9, the value lies more in goal-oriented markets such as Both Teams to Score: Yes and Over 2.5 goals; Over 3.5 goals seems particularly interesting considering the current form and defensive problems. However, soccer remains unpredictable — short-term absences or tactical changes can greatly influence the course of the game, which is why only money that can be affordably lost should be wagered.
Real Form & Record Check
Real Madrid leads La Liga by two points and appears to be in good form with four wins from five competitive games, but tends to decide games in the second half. The recent defeat at Atlético (2-5) is still fresh in the memory, but since then the defense has stabilized and conceded a maximum of one goal in the four wins. The absence of Rüdiger weakens the central defense; Dean Huijsen is available but is unlikely to be at his absolute best yet, while the return of Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold strengthens the right side and could see Valverde move into midfield. Madrid needs to be aggressive in pressing from the start and have a more stable first half to avoid falling behind again; Quick transitions with Mbappé and Bellingham against Barcelona’s possession game will be key.
Real Madrid are likely to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation in El Clásico; Coach Xabi Alonso has almost a full squad to choose from, with only Antonio Rüdiger out with a thigh injury. Dean Huijsen could partner Éder Militão in central defense in place of Rüdiger, while Ferland Mendy, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dani Carvajal should be available again after training. The midfield is likely to feature the trio of Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham, with Bellingham having recently regained his form. Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, and Rodrygo are set to start up front, with Mbappé in impressive form as LaLiga’s top scorer with ten goals and an additional five goals in the Champions League.
Barcelona Form & Record Check
Barcelona travels to Madrid in second place, just two points behind; Hansi Flick is missing from the bench due to his red card against Girona, with his assistant Marcus Sorg taking over on the sidelines. Their form over the last five games is three wins and two defeats, including an impressive 6-1 win over Olympiacos (hat-trick by Fermín López, brace by Marcus Rashford), but also painful defeats in Seville (1-4) and at home to Paris Saint-Germain (1-2). Barcelona scored in all five games, but also conceded goals in each game; In these encounters, two or more goals were often scored by halftime, suggesting spectacular but uncontrolled games. Without Lewandowski and Raphinha, Ferran Torres will likely take over at the top; the return of Lamine Yamal brings creative options on the wing, and Marcus Rashford (eleven points in twelve games) remains a key figure in the offensive play.
Barcelona will take to the Bernabéu with a significantly altered attack due to numerous absences: Lewandowski (muscle tear), Raphinha (thigh injury), Dani Olmo, and Gavi are unavailable, while Marc-André ter Stegen and Joan García are missing in goal; Szczesny is ready to step in. Flick could opt for a 4-2-3-1 system, with the expected line-up: Szczesny — Araujo, Cubarsí — García, de Jong, Pedri — Marcus Rashford (left), Fermín López (number 10), Lamine Yamal (right) — Ferran Torres as center forward. Ferran Torres takes over at the top, Fermín López is expected to fulfill the creative role after his hat trick against Olympiakos; Lamine Yamal is set to return, and Marcus Sorg will lead the team from the sidelines for the suspended Flick.
Real – Barcelona Head-to-Head Comparison & Statistics
Real Madrid has lost its last five competitive matches against Barcelona — a streak that spans La Liga, the Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey and shows clear advantages for the Catalans. Barcelona scored in all five encounters; four times the Royals were already behind at halftime, and all games were high-scoring (over 2.5 goals each). Results such as 0-4 at the Bernabéu, 2-5 in the Super Cup final, 2-3 a.e.t. in the Copa final, and 3-4 in La Liga underscore Barcelona’s offensive power and Madrid’s defensive problems. The losing streak is having a psychological and tactical impact on confidence and game planning — recurring problems are defensive vulnerabilities in the first half and difficulties against Barcelona’s possession and transition play; Madrid must start more defensively stable, defend set pieces better, and close down the space against Barcelona’s wing play to break the streak.
