Barcelona vs Real Madrid: preview, likely lineups and fantasy tips

We show the probable lineups and statistical data of interest for your preferred fantasy game.

We also take a bit of a punt and provide you with a captain, a striker, a wall and a risk for each of the two teams.

Barcelona - Real Madrid

Match date: 25/10-21:00

FC Barcelona

Week of passion for the blaugrana side, a European reality check against PSG on Tuesday and the derby on Sunday at 9 pm against Real Madrid. Decisive days in this first stretch of the season that can shape the future of Flick's men after a blazing start. In fact, a Catalan win would leave their eternal rivals 9 points behind, a gap that is not insurmountable, but close to decisive.

The blaugrana squad will head into the Clasico eager to make up for the first defeat of the season, but they have been hit by injuries to Éric García and Dani Olmo, who join those of Christensen and Bardghji , plus a doubt over Jules Kounde. However, the rest of the key men will arrive at full strength after proper management of minutes, so the show is guaranteed.

As for the starting XI, this week is one of those matchdays that does not allow for doubts, so the best will start without discussion , as the German coach has already admitted publicly.

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Real Madrid C.F.

Real Madrid will travel to the Ciudad Condal in an upward momentum, after beating 4-1 their last two opponents, Sevilla and Leipzig. Mourinho seems to have found the balance that had been missing from the team at the start of the season, especially thanks to the emergence of Arda Güler and the positional switch of Fede Valverde, who has established himself as the best right-back in the squad. The opponent's quality, the setting and the excellent form of the blaugrana side mean all predictions lean towards the home team. Still, surprises also have a place in Clasicos, and the Madrid squad has enough quality to take on any challenge.

The main absence, and probably not regretted by all Madrid fans, will be that of the Brazilian Vinícius Júnior, who will serve the second of his four-match suspension. The other absences are Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio, who continue recovering from their respective injuries.

The starting XI will be pretty recognizable, although it has two major question marks. The first is who will partner Konaté at centre-back, with Huijsen or Rudiger, after Konaté rested in the Champions League. The second is whether Mourinho will dare to field three forwards with a clearly attacking profile (Diomande, Mbappé and Endrick), or whether, on the contrary, he will reinforce the midfield with Valverde, leaving the right-back spot for Dumfries. A decision that will, to a large extent, determine the whites' game plan in the Clasico.

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