Barcelona and Real Madrid Clash in El Clásico That Could Decide La Liga Title

Barcelona host Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday (7:00 PM GMT, 2:00 AM on May 11 Vietnam time) in an El Clásico that could decide the 2025-2026 La Liga championship.

The Catalan side lead the table by 11 points over Real Madrid. A draw is enough for Hansi Flick's team to retain the title. A win would bring them closer to the 100-point record set by Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in 2011-12 and matched by Tito Vilanova's Barcelona in 2012-13.

“I see the team in very good form, very focused. Everyone is looking forward to playing the Clásico. We can be champions with just a draw, but a win would be the best,” defender Jules Kounde said ahead of the match.

Real Madrid enter the game desperate for a win to keep their hopes alive, but the squad is in disarray. After sacking manager Xabi Alonso mid-season, replacement Alvaro Arbeloa has been unable to stop the slide. Real Madrid were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, lost to Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16, and face the prospect of a second straight trophyless campaign.

Most recently, a training-ground scuffle between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni left Valverde requiring stitches. Both were fined €500,000 (about $588,000) but received no sporting discipline. Valverde explained on social media: “Tension and frustration over results caused things to escalate. I accidentally hit a table during an argument, causing a small cut on my forehead. My teammate did not hit me, and I did not hit him.”

Valverde will miss this match due to the head injury, expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks. Tchouameni has returned to training and may feature at Camp Nou.

This is not the only internal incident. Earlier, Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras also had a falling out. Dani Carvajal, frustrated by limited playing time, mocked Trent Alexander-Arnold's defensive abilities. Kylian Mbappe — doubtful with a hamstring injury — faced heavy criticism for holidaying in Sardinia during recovery. President Florentino Perez is reportedly considering a managerial change, with rumors of Jose Mourinho returning to the Bernabeu.

Manager Arbeloa also voiced discontent: “Real Madrid was not built with players who play in a tuxedo, but with players who finish matches with sweaty, muddy shirts, through effort and sacrifice.”

Probable lineups:

Barcelona: Joan Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; Eric Garcia, Pedri; Rashford, Gavi, Fermin; Lewandowski.

Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Fran Garcia; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Pitarch; Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe.

Barcelona are without Lamine Yamal due to a hamstring injury, while Real Madrid miss Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, Arda Guler, Ferland Mendy, and Eder Militao. Thibaut Courtois has recovered and will start.

In the reverse fixture this season, Real Madrid won 2-1 with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. However, Barcelona won 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January 2026.

Historically, the sides have met 263 times: Real Madrid have 107 wins, Barcelona 105, with 51 draws.