When and where is El Clásico? Real Madrid vs Barcelona
All eyes will be fixed on the Santiago Bernabeu next Sunday evening when the iconic stadium hosts the first ‘El Clásico’ of the 2022-23 season.
The dates of 16 October and 15-16 March (2023) will have been pencilled into the diaries of many Real Madrid and FC Barcelona fans upon the 22-23 LaLiga fixture list being confirmed last June.
Follow the match between Real Madrid - Barcelona here
Sunday’s game at the Bernabeu (kick-off at 16:15 local time/ 10:45 am ET) will be the first domestic meeting between the big guns of Spanish football since the Catalan side romped to a 0-4 in the corresponding fixture last season. The result was academic however as Carlo Ancelotti’s team had such an advantage at the top of the table, the adverse result was merely a blip on the way to Real Madrid winning their 35th Spanish league title.
Both sides did meet last summer in a pre-season game in Las Vegas with a solitary Raphina strike enough for Xavi’s side to get one over on their arch enemy.
Table toppers
Sunday’s game does have added spice given the spectacular start to the season being enjoyed by both teams. Both sides are undefeated and have won seven of their eight season openers. Xavi’s men top the table by virtue of goal difference and the Camp Nou side have just conceded once all season.
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Real Madrid however are flying too in the Champions League, something the Catalan side can’t claim and a point for Ancelotti’s side against Shakhtar on Tuesday will see ‘Los Blancos’ mathematically secure a place in the last sixteen. Barcelona are on the ropes in a tricky group following defeats away to Bayern and Inter and face the Serie A giants at Camp Nou on Wednesday night where a win is imperative.
The midweek games could be instrumental in conditioning the dynamic of both sides heading into Sunday’s game with both managers hoping that their respective teams pick up three points in the Champions League without picking up further injuries in what is proving to be a demanding season given the staging of the World Cup in November.