ไทย
English
中國人
Amid total chaos, Real Madrid travel to Camp Nou looking to prevent Barcelona from clinching the La Liga title on Sunday.
The Bernabéu dressing room has descended into disorder, with Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni the latest players to come to blows in what has been a disastrous campaign for Los Blancos — another season ending without a major trophy.
As much as the 15-time European champions would love to put this season behind them, fixtures remain, including this weekend's Clásico. Sitting 11 points adrift of Barcelona at the top of La Liga, Álvaro Arbeloa's side must win on hostile ground just to postpone their rivals' title party.
A draw or loss would see the Catalans crowned Spanish champions once more, leaving Real Madrid to watch on and contemplate just how badly their 2025–26 campaign unraveled.
Valverde Joins Long List of Absentees
Real Madrid were already stretched thin heading into Sunday's fixture, and Valverde's absence only deepens their injury crisis. The Uruguayan sustained a traumatic brain injury following a physical altercation with Tchouaméni in the dressing room, ruling him out of El Clásico.
Tchouaméni emerged from the incident without injury, though his availability for the weekend remains uncertain. The club launched disciplinary proceedings, but both players received only a fine, leaving the door open for the Frenchman to feature at Camp Nou.
Kylian Mbappé has returned to training following his unplanned trip to Italy, though he may be restricted to a substitute role given his persistent hamstring problem. Thibaut Courtois, meanwhile, is expected to reclaim his spot in the starting XI.
Long-term absentees Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal and Arda Güler will all sit out the match. Dani Ceballos, who has had a falling out with Arbeloa, is also set to stay behind in Madrid.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Barcelona
GK: Thibaut Courtois—Having fully recovered from a muscular complaint, the Belgian goalkeeper is set to make his first outing since March 17. Courtois's comeback is a welcome boost for Real Madrid's vulnerable defense.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold—Preparing for his first Clásico experience, Alexander-Arnold will be relieved that he likely won't have to deal with Raphinha charging down the left from the first whistle.
CB: Antonio Rüdiger—A familiar figure in Clásico encounters, Rüdiger must stay disciplined on Sunday and avoid the rash decisions that have cost him in high-stakes matches before.
CB: Dean Huijsen—Huijsen still has plenty of room to grow, with his debut season in white proving inconsistent overall. He has shown improvement recently, however, and will be eager to carry that momentum into Sunday.
LB: Fran García—With Mendy sidelined and Álvaro Carreras out of Arbeloa's plans, García slots in at left back. Like his fellow fullback, he will be thankful that Lamine Yamal is unavailable.
CM: Thiago Pitarch—Pitarch's time in the starting lineup may be running out, yet he continues to profit from the squad's injury and off-field troubles. The young Spaniard steps into Valverde's role.
CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—With no suspension handed down from Real Madrid's internal inquiry, Tchouaméni is free to start this weekend despite the controversy surrounding his recent behavior.
RW: Brahim Díaz—The 26-year-old has delivered a series of below-par performances, but attacking options are limited for Arbeloa, who favors the Moroccan over Franco Mastantuono.
AM: Jude Bellingham—The England midfielder registered his first goal contribution since January in his last outing, and he will be eager to add to that tally against a side he has a strong record against.
LW: Vinicius Junior—Coming off a brace last weekend, Vinicius Jr will once again be central to exploiting Barcelona's defensive line on the counter. The Brazilian has netted 14 times in 2026.
ST: Gonzalo García—With Mbappé's fitness still in doubt, Gonzalo could earn a rare start in attack. The Castilla graduate needed just two minutes off the bench last weekend to tee up Vinicius Jr's winning goal.