Who: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Content: La Liga
Location: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Date and time: Sunday 9pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: Get everything ready on Al Jazeera Sports from 16:00 GMT ahead of the live text commentary stream.
The sting of their Champions League disappointment is fading but not forgotten, as Barcelona host arch-rivals Real Madrid on Sunday as they look to win back-to-back La Liga titles.
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Hansi Flick’s side lead by 11 points and only need a draw in the Clasico to be crowned champions again, but a win against a Whites side in crisis would mean they would make history and celebrate in style.
If Barcelona wins its final four league games this season, starting with a battle against a collapsing Madrid team led by coach Alvaro Arbeloa, it will equal the all-time league record of 100 points.
This was achieved for the first time in the 2011-12 season with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, followed the following year by Tito Vilanova’s Barça.
Meanwhile, Madrid’s season unfolded on multiple fronts. Manager Xabi Alonso was sacked midway through the season, and his successor, Arbeloa, was unable to prevent the team from going trophyless for the second year in a row.
Real are desperate to postpone Barcelona’s La Liga celebrations by recording their second win against Flick’s side this season, having been eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals and lost to Albacete in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.
However, Madrid will face the Clasico in the midst of internal turmoil. It has been reported that Federico Valverde needed stitches after getting into a scuffle with Aurélien Choameny at the training ground, and such incidents have been occurring frequently.
“I think the team is in great shape.”
It will be the first Clasico in more than three years at the partially rebuilt Camp Nou.
Only once in the history of Clasico has the title actually been decided by the result of a match, and it could happen again this Sunday.
Real Madrid clinched the title in the 1931-32 season with a 2-2 draw with Barcelona, winning their first of a record 36 league titles.
Barça’s 29 wins so far this season are the most of any team to date, and if they win their last four games they will break the record of 32 wins in a season shared by Mourinho and Vilanova.
If Barça defeat Madrid and Real Betis next weekend, they will become the first team to win every home game in a 38-game La Liga season.
Barça defender Jules Kounde said this week: “The team is doing well and you can see that they are very focused. We are all really looking forward to playing in the Clasico.”
“You can win La Liga with a draw, but it’s best to win.”
Real Madrid fine Choameni and Valverde over bust-up issue
Los Blancos announced on Friday that they had fined Aurélien Choameny and Federico Valverde 500,000 euros (approximately $588,000) each after a collision on the training ground required hospital treatment.
The club said in a statement that it had not imposed any sporting sanctions on the two players and that the fine “this concludes internal proceedings against the two players”.
Madrid announced that both players “expressed complete remorse for what happened and apologized to each other” while taking part in the club’s investigation.
Uruguay midfielder Valverde tried to downplay the seriousness of his altercation with France midfielder.
Valverde wrote on social media that “competitive tension and frustration escalated the situation” and expressed regret over media coverage of the incident.
“During an argument, I accidentally hit the table and got a small cut on my forehead, which required me to go to the hospital regularly,” he said. “My teammate never hit me, and I didn’t hit him.”
The latest bust-up series of incidents
This follows another reported issue between defenders Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras two weeks ago, with the latter saying it had been addressed.
On another occasion, veteran right-back Dani Carvajal complained about his lack of playing time and appeared to mock Trent Alexander-Arnold’s lack of defensive work ethic.
Mbappe is doubtful that he will be able to play in the Clasico due to a hamstring injury, and has been heavily criticized by fans after taking time off to Sardinia to recover.
Even Arbeloa, who has treated superstars with kid gloves, has shown he wants more dedication.
“We did not build Real Madrid with players who play in tuxedos, but with players who finish the game with effort and sacrifice, wearing shirts covered in sweat and mud,” Arbeloa said after Madrid beat Espanyol without Mbappé, delaying Barça’s title celebrations.
Compounding the situation is president Florentino Perez, who is considering a dramatic management change in connection with former manager Jose Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu.
What happened the last time they met?
Barcelona retained their Spanish Super Cup title with a thrilling 3-2 El Clasico victory over Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia in January.
With Rafinha scoring twice and Robert Lewandowski also on target, the Catalans overcame Xabi Alonso’s side to win a record-extending 16th title, despite a late red card for Frenkie de Jong.
What happened in their last La Liga match?
Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in October’s intense El Clasico, ending a four-game losing streak against their soccer rivals.
Kylian Mbappé then missed a penalty to put Madrid ahead, and Fermin López equalized at the Santiago Bernabéu, but Bellingham’s second goal for the hosts before half-time proved decisive.
direct confrontation
These two clubs have honked their horns 263 times. Of those matches, Real Madrid won 107, Barcelona won 105 and 51 were draws.
Last 5 encounters:
January 11, 2026: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (Spanish Super Cup final) October 26, 2025: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona (La Liga) May 11, 2025: Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid (La Liga) April 26, 2025: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (Copa del Rey final) January 12, 2025: Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona (Spanish Super Cup Final)
barcelona team news
Barça are without teenage star Lamine Yamal, who will be sidelined for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury.
The team is otherwise in good form, with defender Andreas Christensen returning to training after a long spell out with a knee problem and Brazilian winger Rafinha returning to the bench from injury last weekend but not playing in the win over Osasuna that brought Barça closer to the title.
Expected starting lineup:
João Garcia (goalkeeper); Kunde, Kvarsi, Martin, Cancelo. Eric Garcia, Pedri. Rashford, Gavi, Fermin. lewandowski
Real Madrid team news
Los Blancos are waiting to see if top scorer Kylian Mbappe will be available due to a hamstring problem.
Thibaut Courtois was deemed fit to play, a huge boost for Madrid.
Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, Alda Guler, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militão were all absent due to injury.
Valverde will also miss the match after sustaining a head injury during an altercation with Choameni. The club announced that the player will be out for up to two weeks.
Choamenyi took part in training on Friday and could feature at the Camp Nou this weekend.
Expected starting lineup:
Courtois (goalkeeper); Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huisen, Fran Garcia. Camavinga, Choameni, Pitarchi. Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe
