The first Clásico of the 2025/26 LaLiga season is set for Sunday, October 26, at 4:15 p.m. local time (11:15 a.m. ET), when Real Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabéu in one of world football’s most anticipated fixtures.
Real Madrid head into the clash top of LaLiga with a perfect 18 points from six games, a blistering start under new manager, Xabi Alonso.
Barcelona, last season’s treble winners, are second in the standings and have a game in hand, with a midweek trip to Real Oviedo still to come.
The rival clash at the Bernabéu could therefore have an early say in the title race, with both sides looking to lay down a marker in another fiercely contested campaign.
Barcelona’s ElClassico Dominance Last Season
Barcelona boss, Hansi Flick masterminded a clean sweep of Clásico victories in the 2024/25 season; a feat never achieved before.
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LaLiga, Oct. 26, 2024: Barça thrashed Madrid 4-0 at the Bernabéu.
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Spanish Supercopa Final, Jan. 2025: Barça triumphed 5-2 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Copa del Rey Final, Apr. 2025: A closer contest, but Barça edged it 3-2 in Seville.
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LaLiga, May 2025: Barça won again, 4-3 at Montjuic, despite Madrid’s early lead.
That dominance propelled Barça to a domestic treble of LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa, while Madrid endured a rare season without a major trophy.
Stars Ready to Shine
The 2025/26 season’s first ElClásico will feature some of the world’s brightest talents, with seven of the top 30 Ballon d’Or nominees expected to be on display:
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Barcelona: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Pedri, Marcus Rashford
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Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappé, Arda Gurler, Mastantuono
Mbappé, who joined Madrid in the summer, leads the LaLiga scoring charts with five goals, closely followed by Barça’s Ferran Torres (four goals).
The clash also marks the first Clásico for Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, who succeeded Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout.
What’s at Stake
Beyond the three points, October’s ElClásico carries a weight of outcomes:
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For Madrid, it’s a chance to end Barça’s psychological hold after four straight defeats last season.
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For Barça, it’s about proving their dominance was no fluke and stamping authority early in the title race.
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It’s another chapter in football’s most captivating rivalry, where pride often matters as much as silverware.
