This season`s final El Clasico is set to be a significant fixture, with only four points separating Barcelona and Real Madrid as the La Liga title race enters its final four games.
Barcelona enters the match as favorites, based on their dominant performance in previous Clasicos this season, having won three encounters and holding a 12-4 aggregate scoreline against Real Madrid. However, their recent dramatic 7-6 aggregate defeat to Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League raises concerns about their immediate recovery and readiness for a match of this magnitude.
Adding another layer of complexity is the fact that neither side is expected to be at full strength. Real Madrid will miss Antonio Rudiger, who is serving a six-match ban stemming from an incident involving throwing an object at the referee after the Copa del Rey final. For Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski is not fully fit as he returns from a short-term injury, and Alejandro Balde is in a similar situation.
Match Details & Information
- Location: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- Odds: Barcelona -110, Draw +300, Real Madrid +240
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Saturday, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick commented on player fitness and selection. “I don`t think they are ready to start right now,” Flick stated, likely referring to players returning from injury. He praised other players, saying, “Ferran [Torres] upfront and Gerard [Martin] at left-back are performing very well. Seeing Gerard play so well in a Champions League semifinal is truly impressive. [Marc] Casado is also an option. However, we must be cautious. We still have three league matches after the Madrid game. For now, it`s more likely they will be options to come on in the second half.”
This situation presents both managers with significant selection dilemmas, particularly with the La Liga title hanging in the balance.
Below are the predicted starting lineups for the season`s final Clasico encounter.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona Predicted XI:
- Wojciech Szczesny
- Eric Garcia
- Pau Cubarsi
- Inigo Martinez
- Gerard Martin
- Frenkie de Jong
- Pedri
- Lamine Yamal
- Dani Olmo
- Raphinha
- Ferran Torres
Real Madrid Predicted XI:
- Thibaut Courtois
- Lucas Vazquez
- Aurelien Tchouameni
- Raul Asencio
- Fran Garcia
- Dani Ceballos
- Federico Valverde
- Rodrygo
- Jude Bellingham
- Vinicius Junior
- Kylian Mbappe
Dominic Ashworth