Barcelona-Real Madrid: Why that is a very powerful Clásico in years

El Clásico is at all times an enormous deal, one of the vital most-viewed fits all over the world in any season. But with Barcelona and Real Madrid assembly so overdue within the season with the LaLiga name nonetheless at the line, this is among the greatest in years.

When those two giants meet at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium on Sunday (circulate LIVE at 10:15 a.m. ET on ESPN+), they achieve this as the one two groups left who can develop into champions of Spain for 2024-25. If profitable the name itself isn’t enough motivation for stars comparable to Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, then the other — dropping out to their very own membership’s sour competitors — is unthinkable.

Barcelona have had the higher hand each time they performed Madrid this season. But failure to transform their four-point lead into lifting the trophy can be a merciless finish to train Hansi Flick’s first season in price, particularly after their surprising defeat in an all-time vintage UEFA Champions League semifinal towards Inter Milan previous this week.

For Madrid, a season with none silverware is little short of a crisis. But that’s the risk mythical trainer Carlo Ancelotti is dealing with in what seems to be his ultimate 12 months on the membership.

ESPN’s Barcelona and Madrid correspondents, Sam Marsden and Alex Kirkland, give an explanation for why there’s such a lot driving in this Sunday’s Clásico.

Why that is the most important Clásico in years

We’ve had 4 Clásicos this season, every extra important than the final. Now, it kind of feels like the entire marketing campaign has been development to this one sport.

For a get started, Clásicos infrequently occur this overdue, and far much less with such a lot at stake. LaLiga deliberately schedules those video games for March or April, when there may be prone to be extra jeopardy and not more likelihood of the league’s maximum high-profile fixture having no tangible stakes. In truth, up to now 30 years, just one Clásico has come later: Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Madrid — who gained the league anyway, with Barça completing 3 puts and 9 issues in the back of — on May 27, 1995. But right here we’re, on Matchday 35, with the league name nonetheless up for grabs: Barça 4 issues forward, favorites to win the league and whole a home double, with Madrid grimly putting on, hoping to win this conflict and for Barça to disintegrate within the 3 video games that practice.

play

When Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘calma’ birthday celebration silenced Camp Nou

In April 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the profitable objective towards Barcelona, hit an iconic birthday celebration and went on to raise the LaLiga name.

There are a few important precedents, they usually gave us one of the greatest moments in Clásico historical past.

Let’s return to April 2012 and Matchday 35 at Camp Nou. This used to be, in some ways, top Clásico. Pep Guardiola vs. José Mourinho, Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo, and one iconic symbol: Ronaldo’s “calma, calma” gesture to the Camp Nou crowd after scoring the winner. Madrid gained 2-1, and every week later, they gained the league with a file 100 issues and 121 targets scored.

Three years previous, some other epic Clásico: on May 2, 2009, Matchday 34, Barça demolished Madrid 6-2 on the Santiago Bernabéu. Messi and Thierry Henry each scored two times in arguably the signature efficiency of the Guardiola technology. It wasn’t rather decisive — Barça had been declared champions two weeks later — however the jaw-dropping outcome left for sure about which method the race used to be headed.

Will we get anything else that ancient Sunday? Let’s hope so. — Kirkland

How did we get right here?

When the fixtures got here out, there used to be a sense this Clásico would possibly arrive a bit of too overdue to be important. That feeling has been proved totally mistaken. The timing could not be higher as we achieve the finale of a name race that has been marked via twists and turns.

There had been moments when each groups have threatened to tug away on the best. Atlético Madrid have additionally performed their section, however it is Barça, except a dip in shape on the again finish of 2024, who’ve led the way in which for almost all of the marketing campaign.

When they thumped Madrid 4-0 within the Spanish capital final October, declaring their begin to the season used to be no flash within the pan, they spread out a six-point lead over their Clásico competitors on the best. Atlético had been 10 issues again. Then Barça collapsed as a curse perceived to grip whichever group ascended to first position. One win in seven, culminating with defeat to Atlético, allowed Diego Simeone’s facet to upward push to the summit. Then Atlético gained best two in their subsequent six, handing the initiative to Madrid.

After hammering Real Valladolid in January, Los Blancos led Atlético via 4 issues and Barça via seven. With such a lot room for error, indubitably they’d see it house from there? Wrong. It used to be their flip to fumble the lead.

Real gained as soon as in 5 league video games between Feb. 1 and March 1. Meanwhile, Barça recovered their early-season shape. Briefly, prior to Barça’s win at Atlético in March, it seemed like a three-horse race would move the space, however since April, it has come right down to the Clásico duo.

Barça have gained 13 and drawn two in their 15 league video games in 2025, turning a seven-point deficit right into a four-point lead. They’ve additionally asserted their authority over Madrid with a 5-2 Spanish Supercopa ultimate win and final month’s 3-2 victory within the Copa del Rey ultimate. Avoid defeat Sunday they usually will have to win a 2nd name in 3 years; lose and this season of twists would possibly have yet another up its sleeve. — Marsden

play

Barcelona stun Real Madrid with 4-0 thrashing in El Clásico

Robert Lewandowski ratings two targets as Barcelona dominate Real Madrid on the Bernabéu.

What’s at stake for Barcelona?

First, let’s consider that Barça’s season has exceeded expectancies. Winning the Spanish Supercopa and the Copa del Rey, along with attaining a primary Champions League semifinal since 2019, would had been greater than appropriate achievements in the beginning of the marketing campaign for a tender group that gained not anything final season.

Now that that is out of the way in which, let’s additionally say that expectancies have modified. We all knew Lamine Yamal used to be particular, however the pace at which he has blossomed into one of the vital global’s best possible gamers prior to turning 18 has been exceptional. No one noticed Raphinha‘s numbers coming; Robert Lewandowski, 37 in August, having his best possible scoring season since becoming a member of the membership; or Pedri staying have compatibility and in the end creating into the controlling midfielder we now have been looking ahead to.

They have all flourished in Hansi Flick’s machine, which, as we all know via now, is excessive depth, excessive line and extremely a laugh. It’s additionally extremely improper, as Inter demonstrated of their exciting Champions League triumph this week.

Barça have a golden likelihood to bop again from that European defeat via beating Madrid for the fourth time this season and striking one hand at the name. Win the league and this will probably be seen as a exceptional first season underneath Flick. Lose it and the ache of surrendering the highest spot to Madrid, coupled with Inter’s overdue display, will almost definitely override the entire development the Blaugrana for sure have made this 12 months, despite the fact that it should not. — Marsden

play

Flick: Barcelona need to ‘get up’ after UCL semifinal go out

Hansi Flick reacts to Barcelona’s go out from the Champions League following their semifinal extra-time defeat to Inter Milan.

What’s at stake for Real Madrid?

Everything. It’s all-or-nothing for Madrid. Either they win this Clásico, move directly to win LaLiga and salvage their season — or they lose and write this complete marketing campaign off as a huge failure.

For many Madridistas and the Madrid media, the decision is already in after their removal within the Champions League quarterfinals. At this membership, that is the pageant that issues, and after profitable it six instances in 11 seasons, a quarterfinal go out with this proficient squad simply does not minimize it. But due to Inter, Madrid’s largest worry — Barça profitable it as a substitute — has been avoided. Win LaLiga, and Madrid may just even make the case that their season has ended up higher than Barça’s, who’d have only a Copa del Rey trophy and a Supercopa to turn for all their flamboyant soccer underneath Flick.

Whatever occurs, trainer Carlo Ancelotti is at the method out and turns out set to take the Brazil activity. But if Madrid win this Clásico, after which LaLiga, it will resolve simply how a lot urge for food there’s for a significant overhaul of the squad in a position for Ancelotti’s successor, anticipated to be Xabi Alonso. Trent Alexander-Arnold is already at the verge of being the primary showed arrival, however whether or not Madrid practice that up via spending giant on a middle again and a central midfielder — and transfer at the likes of Rodrygo — could be influenced via how the following two weeks move. — Kirkland

play

How would Trent have compatibility in at Real Madrid with Alonso in price?

Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens talk about how Trent Alexander-Arnold would possibly have compatibility in at Real Madrid if Xabi Alonso is called as Carlo Ancelotti’s substitute.

How will Clásico outcome have an effect on name race?

If Barça wins

A win would take Barcelona to 82 issues and depart Madrid stranded on 75 with 3 fits left. If no longer rather sport over, it would not be no longer a long way off. Barça would wish to protected 3 extra issues to win the league outright, which they would have the danger to do away at native competitors Espanyol on Thursday — until Madrid fail to overcome Mallorca an afternoon previous.

If Madrid lose to Mallorca, Barça could have gained the name already by the point they play Espanyol; if Madrid draw with Mallorca, probably the most they may hope for will probably be to degree Barça’s 82-point tally. There, head-to-head comes into play, slightly than objective distinction. And for the reason that Barça gained the primary league Clásico 4-0, head-to-head favors them, barring a actually exceptional outcome Sunday.

If it is a draw

A draw would depart Barcelona at 80 issues and Madrid at 76, keeping up that four-point margin with 3 video games left. Madrid would want Barça to drop 5 issues in the ones video games — as a result of Barça’s most probably head-to-head merit, if the 2 groups finish tied on issues — which see them play Espanyol (away) and two Champions League-chasing aspects in Villarreal (house) and Athletic Club (away). It’d be not likely, however no longer inconceivable.

As for Madrid, they’ve 3 theoretically winnable fixtures towards Mallorca (house), suffering Sevilla (away) and midtable Real Sociedad (house). So a draw would depart Barça as transparent favorites, however Madrid very a lot nonetheless within the race.

If Madrid win

If Madrid win, the name race will probably be blown huge open. Barça would keep at 79 issues and Madrid would climb to 78 with 3 video games left. And once more, on paper, Madrid’s fixtures are considerably extra favorable than Barça’s.

Despite all their issues, you’ll be expecting Madrid to get effects towards Mallorca, Sevilla and La Real. But Barça go back and forth to an Espanyol group that has misplaced best certainly one of its previous 12 house video games — albeit the final one, 2-1 to Real Betis — after which face two truly just right aspects in Villarreal and Athletic. And if Madrid had been, come what may, to overcome Barça via 4 or extra targets (stick with me right here) then Barça would lose their head-to-head merit, too. — Kirkland

Race for the Pichichi

Lewandowski has risen to the problem of Kylian Mbappé’s arrival in Spain supremely. After profitable LaLiga and the Champions League final season, the signing of Mbappé used to be meant to take Madrid to some other degree, even additional out of the achieve of Lewandowski and his Barça teammates.

The reverse has proved true, although, as Lewandowski has spearheaded a Barça assault that has scored 91 targets in 34 video games — 22 greater than Madrid. The Poland striker has netted 25 of them and, for enormous portions of the season, has seemed like a shoo-in to win LaLiga’s Golden Boot — referred to as the Pichichi — for a 2nd time.

However, a subplot to the name race has advanced in fresh weeks as Mbappé roared again. He has 24 targets in his debut season in LaLiga after final weekend’s brace, whilst Lewandowski used to be sidelined with a hamstring damage. An opening that used to be as giant as 8 targets at one level is now just one.

Mbappé has benefitted from extra consequences (six to Lewandowski’s 3) and performed extra mins than his Barça counterpart (2,557 to 2,454), however he has additionally scored some crackers. Four of the Frenchman’s efforts have come from out of doors the field, whilst seven of Lewandowski’s had been predatory finishes throughout the 6-yard space. His best objective from out of doors the field, coincidentally, got here towards Madrid within the opposite fixture.

Now, the 2 forwards who’re separated in age via 10 years face a four-game shootout to win the Pichichi. Of route, profitable LaLiga is the principle purpose, however any striker who says they are no longer additionally pushed via particular person accolades is almost definitely mendacity. It’s that ambition that has pushed Lewandowski and Mbappé up to now. — Marsden