Approaching a season of inevitable conclusions in Spain, El Clásico returns on Saturday with the guarantee of a spectacle between two groups that have some stars in form.
Real Madrid’s credentials shine heading into Saturday’s home game: they beat Barcelona in every extreme Clasico season before winning the Los Angeles League and UEFA Champions League, and achieved a victory lap through touchdown Kylian Mbappé during the summer. However, in a clever twist, Barcelona will start in Madrid on their own level. The managerial drama and chaos of the cash-strapped summer have given way to a solid start under new boss Hansi Flick, who has a star-studded squad, and the Top unusually fit participant in Europe..
It sets up a charming version of one of the crucial game’s most historic rivalries, which may pit both sides against each other in their biggest tests of the season so far. Here’s what you need to know before you tune in.
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Simple methods to monitor and probabilities
- Was: Saturday October 26 | Hour: 3 pm Eastern Time
- Location: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – Madrid, Spain
- They are living the tide: ESPN+
- Odd: Real Madrid +100; Draw +290; Barcelona +230
The tremendous past of Vinicius Adolescente
A new era of the Galacticos is coming to Real Madrid, with players like Mbappé and Jude Bellingham playing a big role so far this season. On the other hand, a big name shines much brighter than the rest: Vinicius Teen.
The Brazilian team has five goals and five assists in 14 games in all competitions, including their midweek hat-trick. His multi-goal performance on Tuesday played a pivotal role in the 5-2 comeback win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, embodying what it means to be a great player. He got his team out of trouble with a realistic draw, but added flavor problems with not one, but two great solo efforts to end the game.
However, Tuesday’s performance remains intact in a series of statement-making performances by Vinicius. He has now scored in two Champions League finals: 2022 and 2024, the most serving as bottom runner for his argument to win the Ballon d’Or. Vinicius is perceived as the favorite for the award after a 24-goal season for Real Madrid, and could become the first person to stake his claim as the easiest player on the field after the time of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He has the support of Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and his teammate Luka Modric, who won the award in 2018, although he is nominated along with six alternative teammates.
Consequently, the hattrick against Dortmund and a powerful performance in El Clásico may be the best opening acts for the career-defining year that would come in Monday’s Ballon d’Or ritual in Paris. Without or with the prize, however, Real Madrid will not be sure to depend on Vinicius to play a big role on Saturday. The hosts will be without Rodrygo, who has three goals and two assists this season, or goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, and will want him to do everything possible to ensure that the match is not a success.
The great name of Raphinha is born
At the beginning of the season, he dehydrated to measure Barcelona’s ceiling. After several years of a financial crisis that has restricted their transfer strategy, they have clearly fallen behind due to Real Madrid’s high spending and the stunning manager change with Hansi Flick for Xavi added to the chaos. However, everything seems to fall into place on the first day of a long day for Barcelona. Flick’s team is one of the most outstanding in Europe today, passing every test that is presented to them.
The biggest tests so far came on Wednesday, after they crushed Bayern Munich 4-1 thanks to their big name of the season: Raphinha. Emerging talent Lamine Yamal and veteran Robert Lewandowski have had dazzling starts of their own, Raphinha managing to upstage them with a hat-trick on Wednesday. It was a decisive turnaround for Brazil, who now averages a goal or a handball for Barcelona every 71.5 minutes this season and could be the most in-form player in Europe’s five leagues.
It’s a surprisingly notable appearance from Raphina, whose move from Leeds United in 2022 was more an example of Barcelona’s strange spending patterns than an indication of a mischievous industry. He failed to score in his first 10 Champions League games but has bounced back in recent months, emerging as a more involved member of the team under Flick. With nine goals and six assists this season, all that will be seen will be the World Cup in Brazil to see if he can continue his good run and, in all likelihood, lead Barcelona to their biggest victory of the season.
Classic Statistics
Archive of all time
- 111 victories for Real Madrid
- 125 victories for Barcelona
- 64 attracts
Marked objectives
- 525 targets from Barcelona
- 489 goals for Real Madrid
Maximum appearances
1. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), 48 games
T-2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Serigo Ramos (Real Madrid), 45 games
4. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), 43 games
T-5. Paco Gento (Real Madrid), Manuel Sanchis (Real Madrid) and Xavi (Barcelona), 42 games
8. Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), 40 games
9. Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), 38 games
T-10. Fernando Hierro (Real Madrid), Raúl (Real Madrid) and Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), 37 games
Main scorers
1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona), 26 goals
T-2. Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), 18 goals
4. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), 16 goals
5. Raúl (Real Madrid), 15 goals
T-6. César (Barcelona), Paco Gento (Real Madrid) and Ferenc Puskas (Real Madrid), 14 goals
9. Santillana (Real Madrid), 12 goals
10. Luis Suárez (Barcelona), 11 goals
