Barcelona welcome Real Madrid to the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, with their perfect LaLiga start on the line and six points separating the two sides.
Barça have won all nine of their LaLiga matches so far, scoring 39 goals. They extended their unbeaten run with a 5-2 win over Real Betis on 17 October, when five different players found the net. The Catalans sit top of the table with 27 points.
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Real Madrid, meanwhile, sit third with 21 points, having won seven and lost two. Their latest victory came on 18 October, when they thrashed Sevilla 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Kylian Mbappé striking twice.
Barcelona’s perfect start to the season came to an end in the Champions League at the Parc des Princes, where they were beaten 4-2 by reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain. Despite equalisers from Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal, the Parisians capitalised on Barça’s defensive lapses to secure the win.
Mourinho’s side had a different story, as they swept aside RB Leipzig 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé, and Yan Diomande all found the net as Madrid claimed their third straight Champions League victory.
The sides last met in May’s El Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou, where the Catalans beat Los Blancos 2-0 to clinch their 29th LaLiga title, their second in a row.
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Mourinho’s previous visit to the Camp Nou as Real Madrid manager came on 26 February 2013, when his team defeated Barcelona 3-1 to reach the Copa del Rey final. The Portuguese manager now returns to Barça’s home ground more than 13 years later.
Sunday’s El Clásico will feature LaLiga’s top three goalscorers, with Raphinha leading the way on 12 goals. Mbappé follows in second with nine, just ahead of Yamal on eight. The Barcelona youngster also leads the assists chart with six.
Both teams will be without key players for Sunday’s clash.
As for the hosts, Dani Olmo has been ruled out with a left adductor injury sustained against PSG. Eric García will also miss the game with a thigh injury, while Jules Koundé is unavailable after picking up an ankle sprain against Real Betis.
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The visitors, on the other hand, will have fewer attacking options, with Vinícius Júnior serving a four-match domestic suspension following his red card against Villarreal. Rodrygo also remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Flick’s side head into the game aiming to bounce back from their Champions League defeat and keep their league-winning run going.
Real Madrid will be looking to build on their strong recent form and close the gap on their Catalan rivals. They could become the first LaLiga team to take points off Barcelona this season.
The match kicks off on Sunday, 25 October, at 20:00 GMT.
