Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off in the 264th El Clasico on Sunday, with Real Madrid struggling and Barcelona poised to defend their La Liga title. The match is set against a backdrop of intense rivalry and historical significance.
Key points
Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet for the 264th El Clasico
Real Madrid is demoralized after recent losses
Barcelona is on track to defend their La Liga title
The rivalry spans 124 years
Kylian Mbappe's participation is uncertain
Mentioned in this story
Kylian Mbappe
BarcelonaReal Madrid
Barcelona and Real Madrid will contest the 264th El Clasico when the Spanish giants come together in a La Liga clash on Sunday.
Rarely will there have been a more highly charged atmosphere with a heavily demoralised Real arriving in the Catalan capital, facing the prospect of watching their fiercest rivals crowned champions on the day.
Although knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarterfinals, as Los Blancos were too, Barca are well on course to defend their La Liga crown – and at a canter.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the talking points heading into the game and what the history is of a 124-year-old rivalry.
Will Kylian Mbappe play for Real Madrid against Barcelona?
The headline news surrounding Sunday’s game is the availability of Kylian Mbappe, with the French striker a doubt for the Clasico because of a hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old striker tops the scoring charts in the Spanish league this season with 24 goals. Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi is a surprise second on the list with 21 strikes, while Barca’s Lamine Yamal, who is out for the remainder of the season, has netted 16 times and is third on the list.
Despite Mbappe’s goalscoring achievements, a “Mbappe out” petition has garnered more than 33 million signatures calling for the club to sell the striker, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain two seasons ago.
What happened to Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde?
Federico Valverde will definitely miss out on El Clasico after a training ground bust-up on Thursday resulted in the midfielder being taken to hospital.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan is understood to have sustained a head injury following an incident with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.
Real have said they are investigating internally, and have already decided to open disciplinary proceedings against both players.
It is not yet clear if Frenchman Tchouameni will be available for Sunday’s match as a result.
How can Barcelona win La Liga in Sunday’s El Clasico?
Alvaro Arbeloa’s Real trail Hansi Flick’s reigning champions by 11 points with four matches remaining, and are sinking towards a second straight season without a major trophy.
Anything but a win for Real on Sunday will see Barca lift the trophy in their own stadium against the only side to have won La Liga more.
What is meant by El Clasico?
Q&A
What is the significance of the 264th El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid?
The 264th El Clasico is significant as it showcases a historic rivalry, with Barcelona aiming to secure their La Liga title against a struggling Real Madrid.
What is the current form of Barcelona and Real Madrid ahead of El Clasico?
Barcelona is in strong form, well-positioned to defend their La Liga title, while Real Madrid is demoralized after being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League.
Will Kylian Mbappe play for Real Madrid in the El Clasico match?
The article raises the question of Kylian Mbappe's potential participation for Real Madrid, but does not confirm his status.
How long has the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid lasted?
The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid has lasted for 124 years, making it one of the most enduring in football history.
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The term El Clasico first appeared in a Spanish newspaper during the 1960s in reference to matches between the two biggest club teams in Spain.
The simple translation is “The Classic”.
By that time, the match had already been long considered one of sport’s fiercest derbies.
How did El Clasico become Spain’s greatest rivalry?
Originally, the phrase “Viejo Clasico” (Old Classic) was a term that referred to the Madrid derby between Real and Athletic Bilbao.
The match between the pair has historically been the most-played fixture in Spanish football before the rise of Barcelona to one of the two most prominent teams in the country.
The term El Clasico, although a 1960s invention in Spain, became a more widely popular and globally associated name when the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona peaked in the 1990s.
Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona were a side to be feared on the global stage, but Quinta del Buitre’s Real were putting up a stern test. In the late 90s, Real’s superstar lineup was dubbed the Galacticos following the heavy financial investment in overseas stars such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham.
By the turn of the century, the rivalry was recognised as one of the biggest match-ups in world sport and heralded in the era of Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho in the dugouts – and the small matter of Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo on the field.
When was the first El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid?
The first match between the clubs took place on May 13, 1902, in the Copa de la Coronacion (a predecessor to the Copa del Rey).
Barcelona won the match 3-1 in the Spanish capital against Madrid FC (the club later became Real Madrid).
Who has won more El Clasico matches, Real Madrid or Barcelona?
Of the 261 matches between the clubs over the last 124 years, Real have won 106, while Barcelona have won 105.
How many times have Real Madrid and Barcelona won La Liga?
Real have lifted the La Liga trophy 36 times while Barca are targeting their 28th title.
Who has scored the most El Clasico goals?
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 26 goals for Barcelona
Alfredo Di Stefano (Portugal) – 18 goals for Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 18 goals for Real Madrid
Karim Benzema (France) – 16 goals for Real Madrid
Raul (Spain) – 15 goals for Real Madrid
What are the last five results between Barcelona and Real Madrid?
January 11, 2026 – Spanish Super Cup final: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid
October 26, 2025 – La Liga: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
May 11, 2025 – La Liga: Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
April 26, 2025 – Copa del Rey final: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (after extra time)
January 12, 2025 – Spanish Super Cup final: Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona
How can I follow Sunday’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid?
We will bring you our comprehensive text commentary stream of Sunday’s match, starting with our usual extensive build-up – including all the news, analyses and opinion surrounding the game.
