Overview
- Kickoff is 4:15 p.m. CEST (3:15 p.m. UK; 11:15 a.m. ET), with coverage on ESPN2/ESPN+ in the USA, Premier Sports in the UK, and FanCode and Sony Sports in India.
- Barcelona travel with a thinned squad as Raphinha is ruled out, joining absentees such as Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, and goalkeepers Joan García and Marc-André ter Stegen.
- Kylian Mbappé enters in prolific form with 15 goals in his first 12 Real Madrid games, highlighting a key threat at the Bernabéu.
- It is Xabi Alonso’s first Clásico as Real Madrid head coach, with attention on how his side handles another major test after earlier heavy defeats this season.
- Pre-match tension rose after reports that Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal said Real Madrid "cheat" and "complain" in a televised interview.