One of world football’s biggest rivalries returns on Sunday 26th October when Real Madrid and Barcelona meet at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu to contest another El Clásico blockbuster in Spain.
While the 2025/26 La Liga campaign is still in its early exchanges, the title race is already shaping up to be a two-way tussle between Real and Barça, giving Sunday’s clash an extra edge – not that it needs much sharpening.
If you’re watching from the UK or Ireland, kick-off time has been set for 3:15pm GMT and we’ve got all the betting angles covered for El Clásico here at Tonybet.
Current form
La Liga leaders Real Madrid hold a two-point advantage over rivals Barcelona at the summit of the table, following a searing start to the new domestic season in Spain.
Teething problems for new head coach Xabi Alonso have been few and far between, with Real winning eight times in nine attempts in the league and collecting 24 points from a possible 27 while scoring 20 goals along the way.
The only blot on their copybook was a not insignificant 5-2 reverse to Atlético Madrid on derby day in late September, though Real conceded five times from just seven shots on target in that mauling on what was a calamitous afternoon across the capital.
Kylian Mbappé, who is averaging slightly better than a goal per game in La Liga since the summer (10 in 9), remains the star attraction, though the Frenchman has been ably assisted by Vinícius Júnior (5G, 4A) and the emerging Arda Güler (3G, 4A).
Youthful defensive recruits Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras have also settled in well following moves from Bournemouth and Benfica, though Real’s new-look backline did struggle in that torrid derby reverse at Atlético.
Last weekend, Real needed an 80th-minute intervention from Mbappé to see off nine-man Getafe, a result that provided them with just their second clean sheet in seven La Liga tests.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have outperformed Real Madrid for goals scored (24 to 20), average shots (21.1 to 19.1), and for average shots on target per game (8.6 to 6.9) this season, though the defending champions are playing catch-up where it counts most.
Barça have already dropped points on two separate occasions since August, with both stumbles coming on the road, at Rayo Vallecano (1-1) and Sevilla (1-4), with the latter the club’s biggest loss in La Liga for over a decade.
Hansi Flick’s side rebounded with a 6-1 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Fermín López (3) and Marcus Rashford (2) providing five of Barça’s six goals.
Barcelona can travel to Madrid with confidence, then, and they also have the luxury of an extra day’s rest following Real’s involvement against Juventus on Wednesday evening. Barça have also won each of the last four iterations of El Clásico, running up an aggregate score of 16-7 in the process, and there is merit in backing them in the double chance market at generous odds on Sunday (1.68 with Tonybet).
Team news
Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso, who is preparing for his first El Clásico fixture as Real’s head coach, has several personnel issues to contend with ahead of Sunday.
Alonso’s defensive options have been impacted by injury, with David Alaba, Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rüdiger confirmed absentees and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal listed as major doubts.
Raúl Asencio partnered Éder Militão at centre-half in the second half against Getafe last weekend and in midweek against Juve, with the versatile Federico Valverde filling in at right back, and all three could reprise those roles on Sunday.
Barcelona have their own injury issues to contend with. Joan García, Marc-André ter Stegen, Gavi and Dani Olmo remain sidelined, while star striker Robert Lewandowski looks set for a four-week absence having picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty with Poland.
Marcus Rashford could spearhead the Barcelona attack again in the absence of Lewandowski. Raphinha, who has been missing since late September, is closing in on a return, however. He wasn’t risked against Olympiacos on Tuesday evening but is expected to play a part on Sunday.
Head-to-head
Out of all competitive El Clásico matches on record, Real Madrid have won 105, Barcelona have won 103, and there have been 52 draws, though recent history favours Barça.
The rivals met four times across three separate competitions last season. Barcelona emerged as victors on each occasion, and seemed to score at will against Real’s watery backline.
In last season’s corresponding fixture at the Bernabéu (October 2024), Barcelona ran riot after a quiet first half and eventually hit four goals without reply after the interval (4-0), with Robert Lewandowski (2), Lamine Yamal and Raphinha netting.
Then in January this year, in the Supercopa de España in Jeddah, Barça pulverised Real again (5-2), with Lewandowski, Raphinha (2) and Lamal central again. Alejandro Balde also got in on the act in Saudi Arabia.
The clubs met again in the Copa del Rey final in April, when the clash was more keenly contested. Goals from Pedri and Ferran Torres (Barcelona), and Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) took the game to extra time, before Jules Koundé tipped the balance in Barça’s favour in the 116th minute.
Barcelona completed their quadruple of El Clásico victories in a seven-goal thriller in Catalonia in May, earning a 4-3 triumph that would essentially seal their La Liga title win. Raphinha (2), Lamal and Eric García scored for the hosts, while Kylian Mbappé finished with a hat-trick on the losing side.
The four tussles between Real Madrid and Barcelona last season averaged a shin-splintering 8.5 cards per game, which was fully in keeping with the fixture’s ill-tempered traditions.
Key players to watch
Marcus Rashford
A lost soul in Manchester, Rashford has been reinvigorated by his loan move to Barcelona. The 27-year-old took some time to warm up, though he is beginning to flourish, and his brace against Olympiacos in midweek took his recent tally up to nine goal contributions in his last nine appearances for Barça.
This week, Rashford said that he “came to Spain to play matches like El Clásico”, and he should have chances to shine as the tip of the spear in Barcelona’s attack in the absence of the injured Robert Lewandowski. Rashford has let fly with 12 attempts in his last two runouts combined, so don’t expect him to be shot shy on Sunday.
Raphinha
Brazilian winger Raphinha was Real Madrid’s chief tormentor in El Clásico fixtures last season, scoring five times in four appearances against Los Blancos, and the 28-year-old will be eager to do some more damage on the biggest stage on Sunday.
Raphinha has been nursing an injury of late, though he returned to training this week, just in time to line up against Real Madrid in the capital. The attacker’s return to fitness is a massive boost to Barça’s chances of success, especially with Real in the grip of an injury crisis in defence.
Kylian Mbappé
50% of Real Madrid’s 20 goals in La Liga this season have been scored by Kylian Mbappé, and the French forward, who has registered at least once in 13 of his last 14 appearances for club and country, will be desperate to maintain his scoring streak on Sunday.
Mbappé was on the losing side against Barcelona four times last season, though he did score five times against Barça, including a hat-trick in the clubs’ most recent meeting in May. The 26-year-old’s explosive acceleration should set knees knocking in the Barcelona defence again this weekend.
Vinícius Júnior
Real Madrid fan favourite Vini Jr was starting to scratch at peak form before the October international break, having reestablished himself as a first-choice pick for Xabi Alonso, and the 25-year-old’s head-to-head with Barça right back Jules Koundé could be a key matchup.
Vinícius Júnior has been averaging 2.4 key passes and 2.1 dribbles per game in La Liga this season while also drawing a club-high 2.2 fouls per contest, highlighting just how influential a performer he is down Real’s left flank. The winger, who was booked in two separate outings against Barça last term, could also be a card market candidate with potential on Sunday.
Keep up to date with Tonybet
Despite their recent domination of this fixture, Barcelona have been installed as underdogs to win on Sunday at a surprisingly lofty price of 3.30. And with El Clásico specialist Raphinha back from injury, the visitors are easily the value bet, with the away win/draw double chance option also having plenty of appeal at 1.68.
Last season’s four El Clásico matches averaged 5.75 goals, which should also invite interest in the over 3.5 goal market at 1.88 for anyone looking beyond standard match result lines.
Whichever angle you pursue, make sure that you use the competitive odds and extensive Real Madrid vs Barcelona markets at Tonybet to your advantage. We’ve got blanket coverage to serve all of your El Clásico betting needs.
