El Clasico: Raul tips Real Madrid as favourites, warns of Yamal threat

Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez has backed Los Blancos as favourites to win Sunday’s highly anticipated El Clasico against Barcelona, but cautioned that Xabi Alonso’s men must be wary of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

La Liga leaders Real Madrid will host their fierce rivals Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first El Clasico of the 2025/26 La Liga season, holding a two-point lead at the top of the table.

Read Also: Barcelona thrash Real Madrid 4-0 in El Clasico to end 42-game unbeaten streak

Raul, who made 741 appearances for Madrid during a glittering 16-year career that saw him win La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Copa del Rey, believes home advantage gives Real Madrid a slight edge.

“I don’t think it matters how you get there; a Clasico is always a special game,” Raul told EFE.
“I think that Real Madrid, playing at home and being in front of their fans, are slight favourites — but they are going to find a great team in front of them.”

Barcelona, dealing with injury concerns including Frenkie de Jong, will be banking on Lamine Yamal to inspire their attack. The 18-year-old forward has emerged as one of world football’s brightest prospects.

Raul, who broke into Real Madrid’s first team as a teenager, heaped praise on Yamal’s rise but urged caution on the pressures of early success.

“He’s a great player, breaking many barriers and doing things very few have done,” Raul said.

“He’s still very young, and now he has to consolidate everything he’s achieving. He can be a very important player for Barcelona and also for Spain.”

Sunday’s clash at the Bernabéu promises another chapter in football’s most storied rivalry, with both teams eager to seize early-season supremacy.