El Clasico: Can Real Madrid break Barcelona’s dominance in blockbuster showdown

The 2025/26 La Liga campaign is shaping up as Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu for the first El Clasico of the season.

League leaders Real Madrid will look to move five points clear at the top when they host Barcelona on Sunday afternoon in what promises to be a high-octane encounter at the Bernabeu.

Read Madrid: Alonso: Real Madrid in good form ahead of El Clasico

Under Xabi Alonso, Madrid have seen significant improvement this season, winning 11 of their 12 matches in all competitions. Their only defeat came away to Atletico Madrid in late September.

With 24 points from nine league games, Los Blancos currently sit two points ahead of Barcelona after edging Getafe 1-0 last weekend.

In midweek, Jude Bellingham continued his remarkable form, netting the winner in a 1-0 Champions League victory over Juventus, keeping Madrid perfect in the group stage.

Barcelona, meanwhile, bounced back from a poor spell with a 6-1 thrashing of Olympiacos in Europe, following their 2-1 win over Girona in La Liga. However, their earlier 4-1 defeat to Sevilla laid bare defensive weaknesses that Madrid’s potent attack could exploit.

Coach Hansi Flick faces a mounting injury crisis, with key players Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Gavi, and Dani Olmo all sidelined. To compound matters, Flick will also be absent from the touchline due to suspension.

Despite these setbacks, Barcelona will take heart from their impressive record against Real Madrid last season, having won all four El Clásico meetings across competitions.

But they now face a rejuvenated Madrid side in superb form and boosted by the return of Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen to full fitness.

After nine games, Real Madrid lead the La Liga standings with 24 points, two ahead of Barcelona’s 22, and as in most La Liga seasons, Sunday’s El Clásico could once again prove decisive in shaping the title race.