Real Madrid and FC Barcelona meet again this Sunday, Oct. 26, in a clash that could shape the La Liga title race — and perhaps redefine the balance of power in Spanish football’s greatest rivalry.
For Real Madrid, this El Clásico is about far more than points. After being outclassed by Barcelona in all four meetings last season, pride and redemption are on the line at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona humiliated Madrid throughout the 2024–25 campaign. The tone was set early with a 4–0 demolition in Madrid last October, followed by a 5–2 rout in the Supercopa semifinal in Saudi Arabia. Barça then edged Madrid 3–2 in the Copa del Rey final after extra time in Seville, and finished the sweep with a 4–3 win at home in May. It was as complete a dominance as any side has managed in the modern era of the rivalry.
At the heart of that surge was Lamine Yamal — the teenage prodigy who tore through Madrid’s defense time and again. Calm under pressure and electric on the counter, Yamal became the story of the season, linking seamlessly with Pedri and Gavi to form a fearless, fast-moving midfield engine that powered Barcelona’s attack.
This year, though, Madrid look different. Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos have rediscovered a sense of structure and identity. The football is sharper, more deliberate. Alonso’s side press higher, move the ball quicker, and defend with a collective discipline that was missing last season.
Much of that resurgence is tied to Kylian Mbappé’s arrival. The French forward has been decisive in tight matches, forming an increasingly dangerous partnership with Vinícius Jr. and offering Madrid the kind of attacking edge they sorely lacked against Barcelona last year. Behind them, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni have brought energy and balance to midfield, while Jude Bellingham — now returning from injury — continues to influence games from deeper positions.
The stakes could hardly be higher. Madrid sit top of La Liga heading into the weekend, and victory would stretch their lead to five points. A loss, however, would hand Barcelona the advantage — and reopen the question of whether Alonso’s Madrid can deliver when it truly matters.
Flick, meanwhile, knows his side still carry the psychological upper hand. Barcelona’s vertical, aggressive style unsettled Madrid last season, and Yamal’s pace remains a major threat on the break. But Alonso is no stranger to this fixture, and his tactical intelligence suggests a more measured approach: control the tempo, limit space in transition, and deny Barça the chaos in which they thrive.
It feels, in many ways, like a turning point. Madrid’s crowd will demand a statement; Barcelona will look to remind them who has held the upper hand. Both sides arrive with something to prove — one defending its dominance, the other desperate to reclaim it.
Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m. East Africa Time (EAT) on Sunday, Oct. 26, live on CANAL+’s SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3 channels.
