The word “epic” gets overused but good luck trying to steer the adjectives in another direction when describing the upcoming La Liga match between El Clasico rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid on Sunday at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.
MORE — Live updates from Barcelona vs Real Madrid
The match will likely be the decider when it comes the 2024-25 La Liga title, and the fact that it comes on the heels of a 5-goal, lead-alternating, extra time Copa del Rey final between the historic rivals only amps up the tension.
How to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10:15am ET Sunday (May 11)
Venue: Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc — Barcelona
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN Deportes, ESPN+
This season’s Clasico matches
October 26, 2024 — La Liga — Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona
January 12, 2025 (Saudi Arabia) — Supercopa de Espana Final — Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona
April 26, 2025 (Seville) — Copa Del Rey Final — Barcelona 3-2 aet Real Madrid — Player ratings
May 11, 2025 — La Liga — Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Barcelona vs Real Madrid, El Clasico preview
The match will likely be the decider when it comes the 2024-25 La Liga title, and the fact that it comes on the heels of a 5-goal, lead-alternating, extra time Copa del Rey final between the historic rivals only amps up the tension.
Oh, did we mention that three Real Madrid players were sent off near the final whistle for losing their cool — and in Antonio Rudiger’s case, his water bottle — at officials?
Yep, one of the world’s all-time rivalries remains full of intrigue.
At the moment, Barca hold a four-point lead on second place Real with just four matches left each in the La Liga season. A win wouldn’t mathematically end Real’s one-year reign atop La Liga, but it would signal its imminent demise.
Then comes this match, and a seven-point lead with only three match days left would signal Barca’s return to domestic dominance.
Barcelona team news
OUT: Jules Kounde (knee) Marc Bernal (ACL), Marc Casado (knee), Daniel Rodriguez (shoulder) | QUESTIONABLE: Alex Balde (back), Marc Andre ter Stegen (undisclosed)
Real Madrid team news
OUT: Antonio Rudiger (knee), David Alaba (knee), Ferland Mendy (muscular), Dani Carvajal (knee), Eder Militao (knee), Eduardo Camavinga (tendon)
Barcelona vs Real Madrid prediction
It seems absurd that Barca would win all four Clasicos in one season, doesn’t it? This Barca looks strong in all aspects, especially given the amount of injuries in Real’s defense. Rudiger is a massive miss with Militao and Carvajal already long-term absences, though Lewandowski’s not 100% fit status does help the visitors.
That said, for all of Real’s quality they are quite off their path right now. Real are 12W-3D-7L since the start of February and 4W-1D-4L since the start of April.
As for Barca? They are on an absurd run since the calendar hit 2025 — the Blaugranas are 24W-2L-4D in all competitions, the lone losses away to Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan. Maybe this is just one of those years. Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid.
