Barcelona vs Real Madrid, La Liga: Preview

Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández

VAR: Javier Iglesias Villanueva

How to watch on TV: ESPN (USA), Premier Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), Movistar (Spain), others

****How to watch online: ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports Player (UK), FanCode (India), Movistar+ (Spain), others

Following a tough win away to Osasuna last weekend and a full week to rest, recover and train, Barcelona return to action for the biggest game of the season as the Catalans welcome their biggest rivals Real Madrid for the final El Clásico of the campaign at The Greatest Stadium on Earth on Sunday Night Fútbol.

There’s not much that needs to be said about this one as the scenario is pretty clear: avoid defeat, and Barça will mathematically clinch back-to-back league titles and will get to celebrate in front of the home crowd and in front of their rivals. The La Liga trophy will be in the building, so the Blaugrana have a chance to have a full title party in the Catalan capital if they can finish the job on Sunday.

Barça will be favorites given the recent form of both teams, the massive 11-point gap in the table, the huge injury crisis facing Los Blancos, and a crazy week full of drama at the capital with petitions asking for Kylian Mbappé’s exit and two fights between teammates that sent Fede Valverde to the hospital and resulted in a huge fine for the Uruguayan and his sparring partner Aurélien Tchouaméni.

Madrid are facing an unprecedented crisis that might even result in José Mourinho’s return to try and solve the issues in the dressing room, and all signs point to them being broken as a club ahead of Sunday’s Clásico. But anyone thinking this will be a stroll in the park for Hansi Flick and his troops is sadly mistaken.

There is still a whole lot of talent in this Madrid team and they will look to prove they can put the personal issues aside and put up a fight against Barça, and the possible absence of Mbappé through injury will empower Vinicius Jr. to bring his best in a matchup he is always very motivated for. Winning the league is still virtually impossible even if they do pull off the upset on Sunday, but El Clásico is Madrid’s last chance to save some dignity in a horrible season.

They will be dangerous and highly motivated, and Barça must be ready for a true battle. The Catalans have won five of the six Clásicos under Hansi Flick and are very comfortable in this matchup, but they still can’t take it for granted.

A title is at stake, Madrid are ready to be broken for good, and Camp Nou will be at its very best. It’s up to the players to deliver.

Let’s dance.

POSSIBLE LINEUPS

Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Joan; Kounde, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Roony, Olmo, Fermín; Lewandowski

Real Madrid (4-4-2): Courtois; Trent, Rüdiger, Huijsen, García; Bellingham, Tchouaméni, Pitarch, Camavinga; Brahim, Vinicius

PREDICTION

Unlike many Barça fans who want a humiliation of their biggest rivals, the only thing I genuinely care about is watching the players jumping in a circle in the middle of the pitch as Camp Nou celebrates winning La Liga. I don’t care how we get there: 2-2 draw.