Get ready for the season’s first edition of the world’s most famous football fixture.
It is nearly El Clasico time, as Real Madrid and Barcelona meet at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon.
Los Blancos are the current La Liga table-toppers, adding yet another layer of excitement to this contest.
Check out our full El Clasico betting preview, with odds and tips to help you bet on football this weekend.
And if your bet on Real Madrid vs Barcelona is coming in with time left in the match, our Cash Out feature allows you to collect potential winnings early.
Where can I watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona in the UK?
Real Madrid vs Barcelona will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1, with kick-off scheduled for 3:15pm UK time.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona Preview
Both teams are coming off wins in the Champions League, Barca thrashing Olympiacos 6-1 thanks to a treble from Fermin Lopez and Real beating Juventus 1-0.
Jude Bellingham netted his first goal of the season to secure the victory for Los Blancos, who are two points clear at the top of La Liga with eight wins from nine.
Real’s only defeat came against city rivals Atletico, and it is actually quite impressive that the 5-2 thrashing dished out by Diego Simeone’s men has not really derailed Xabi Alonso’s side.
Barca also refused to let the 4-1 loss at Sevilla before the international break significantly impact them, bouncing back with a 2-1 win over Girona and the aforementioned success over Olympiacos.
Marcus Rashford continued his sparkling form with two goals against the Greek side on Tuesday evening, while Lamine Yamal accelerated his return to form by converting from the penalty spot.
But when it comes to goals, we have to mention one man in particular; Kylian Mbappe.
The Frenchman has netted 15 times in 12 appearances across all competitions this season, and also recorded a hat-trick vs Barca back in May, albeit in a 4-3 losing cause.
Stopping Mbappe will be top of Hansi Flick’s list of priorities, although a run of six matches without a clean sheet is far from ideal preparation in that regard.
But a major positive for Barca is the possible comeback of talismanic forward Raphinha from injury, with Ferran Torres also returning to the matchday squad on Tuesday evening. Raphinha has three goals and two assists from six previous La Liga appearances vs Real.
In terms of team news for the hosts, Real are hopeful that Dean Huijsen, Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be available for selection, though Antonio Rudiger remains out.
In 2024-25, Barca won all four editions of El Clasico, famously claiming a 4-0 top-flight win at the Bernabeu last October.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Real Madrid enter the first El Clasico of the season as favourites, priced at 1.99 to claim the win. Another victory for Barcelona in this world-famous derby is at odds of 3.23, while the draw is 3.94.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona Betting Tips
Kylian Mbappe to have over 2.5 shots on target @ 3.50
The shots on target markets can be a real source of value for an Mbappe-themed bet. The Frenchman records sensational numbers in this department, already boasting a total of 19 in La Liga – five more than any other player. And Barca’s defensive frailties, enhanced by the insistence on playing a high line, should present Los Blancos’ top scorer with plenty of opportunities. This selection would have landed in both league matches last season, with Mbappe tallying three shots on target in Madrid and four in Catalonia.
Player to score or assist – Fermin Lopez @ 2.40
Fresh from a hat-trick vs Olympiacos, the stage is set for Lopez to cement his place in Barca’s best XI while Dani Olmo is on the sidelines. Lopez has two goals in La Liga this season, and he averaged a goal or an assist every 113 minutes in the Spanish top flight last term, a mighty fine record.
Total goals – Over 3.5 @ 1.76
This fixture has been packed full of goals in recent times, and we cannot see that changing here. The last six editions of El Clasico have featured over 3.5 goals, with over 4.5 goals in four of them! When a clash contains attacking stars like Mbappe, Vinicius and Yamal, the term ‘clean sheet’ just feels alien.
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