Real Madrid’s starting lineup for today’s Clásico against Barcelona

Real Madrid go into Sunday’s El Clásico against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu knowing that a victory would all but wrap up the LaLiga title and allow them to concentrate fully on the Champions League in the last few weeks of the season. Carlo Ancelotti’s side reached the semi-finals in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, eliminating Manchester City in a penalty shootout having been on the back foot for most of the second leg at the Etihad.

Real Madrid confirmed starting XI

Lunin; Vazquez, Rüdiger, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Valverde, Modric, Kroos, Bellingham; Rodrygo and Vinicius.

Here is Barça’s XI

Real Madrid’s healthy lead over Barça in LaLiga

Madrid are eight points clear of Barça with seven matches to play. A victory would extend that advantage to 11 points with only 18 left on the table, which would surely be an unassailable lead. Even a draw would leave the league leaders in an incredibly strong position with so few matches remaining.

Not that the hosts will be playing for anything other than a win. Despite his team’s midweek exertions across almost 130 minutes, Ancelotti isn’t expected to rotate and will likely field his strongest XI against opponents who are still reeling from their own Champions League exit.

Barça were, of course, knocked out in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain despite holding a two-aggregate lead with an hour of the second leg left to play. Ronald Araújo’s red card in Montjuïc proved extremely costly, with the Catalans conceding four times without the defender.

The only doubt for Ancelotti is at left-back. Ferland Mendy didn’t train on Saturday due to muscle fatigue but was later included in the squad for the game, which suggests he will be available.

Before the match, the Italian coach played up the Frenchman’s defensive abilities, so he will be keen to have him at his disposal to shackle Lamine Yamal, one of Barcelona’s most dangerous attackers. If Mendy ultimately isn’t deemed fit enough to start, Eduardo Camavinga will likely drop into defence, with Fran García not considered the most suitable option to defend against Yamal.

The rest of the team should pick itself. Andriy Lunin, who starred against City and saved two of five penalties in the shootout, will start in goal once more. Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger and Nacho will continue in defence, alongside either Mendy or Camavinga.

In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni is expected to return after his Champions League suspension at the expense of Camavinga. The former Monaco man will team up in the engine room with Fede Valverde, Toni Kroos and Jude Bellingham.

Brazilian duo Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior will head the attack, supported from deep by Bellingham.

Our predicted Real Madrid XI to play Barcelona

Lunin; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Nacho, Mendy or Camavinga; Valverde, Tchouameni, Kroos, Bellingham; Rodrygo and Vinicius.

Lucas Vázquez, Eder Militão and Fran García will be the defensive options on the bench, which will also contain midfielders Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos and Arda Güler, as well as attackers Brahim Díaz and Joselu. The matchday squad will be completed by goalkeepers Kepa and Mario De Luis, and one of Camavinga or Mendy.

Long-term injury victims David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois are Real Madrid’s only confirmed absentees. Defender Alaba won’t play again until next season, while there appears to be only a slim chance of goalkeeper Courtois featuring before 2024/25.