Barcelona will face Real Madrid on Sunday, October 25, at Camp Nou in the La Liga El Clasico. Barcelona have won their opening nine league matches and can become the first team in La Liga history to win the first 10 matches of a season if they defeat Real Madrid.
Barcelona Eye Historic 10th Consecutive League Win
Barcelona have started the 2026-27 La Liga season with nine consecutive victories and 27 points. The team has scored 39 goals during this run, with no other team in the league reaching a similar attacking tally.
With nine consecutive wins, Barcelona have equalled Real Madrid's record from the 1968-69 season. At that time, Real Madrid, coached by Miguel Muñoz, won their opening nine league matches. Their winning run ended in the 10th match with a goalless draw against Pontevedra.
Barcelona now have the opportunity to set a new record by defeating the same club. A victory would make Barcelona the first team to win the opening 10 matches of a La Liga season.
PSG Defeat Highlights Barcelona's Defensive Weaknesses
Barcelona enter Sunday's match after suffering their first defeat of the current season. Paris Saint-Germain defeated them 4-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Barcelona created several chances in the match in Paris, but defensive errors proved costly. PSG exploited the space behind Barcelona's high defensive line. The same weakness will be under scrutiny against Real Madrid.
Barcelona have scored 50 goals in 12 matches across all competitions this season, while conceding 15 goals.
Mourinho Says Previous Form Has Little Importance in El Clasico
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho held a press conference on Saturday ahead of the match. He said his team are playing well, scoring goals and winning matches consistently, but previous results have limited importance in an El Clasico.
According to Mourinho, football has many major matches, but the El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid is a match of its own. He said football fans around the world stop what they are doing to watch it.
Real Madrid have won their last four matches. They defeated Sevilla 4-1 in La Liga and then recorded another 4-1 victory against RB Leipzig in the Champions League. Mourinho wants his players to continue this form at Camp Nou.
Mourinho Returns to El Clasico With Real Madrid After 13 Years
Mourinho previously served as Real Madrid's head coach from 2010 to 2013. During that period, his matches against Pep Guardiola's Barcelona attracted considerable attention.
In his first spell, Mourinho managed Real Madrid in 17 El Clasico matches against Barcelona. Real Madrid won five, drew six and lost six of those matches.
He has now returned to the rivalry with a new group of players. Mourinho said the team have been working under his coaching for only a few months. The players are understanding his style, while he is also gaining a better understanding of the team's needs. He therefore said it would be premature to directly compare his team with an established Barcelona side.
Flick Identifies Areas for Improvement
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick said the players rested after the defeat against PSG and are ready to face Real Madrid. He acknowledged that Barcelona made some mistakes in Paris that cannot be repeated.
According to Flick, Real Madrid have players capable of changing the course of a match within seconds. Barcelona will therefore need to maintain possession while also keeping the correct distances in defence.
Flick particularly stressed the importance of players' positioning on the pitch. Barcelona usually play with a high defensive line, which creates pressure on opponents but also leaves space behind the defence when possession is lost.
Flick also acknowledged that Real Madrid can be dangerous from set pieces. Barcelona will therefore need to defend better against corners and free kicks.
Yamal and Mbappe Among the Players in Focus
Several prominent players will feature in the El Clasico, with Lamine Yamal for Barcelona and Kylian Mbappe for Real Madrid attracting particular attention.
Yamal has been a challenge for opposing defenders because of his pace, dribbling and ability to score with his left foot. Real Madrid's Marc Cucurella could have a major responsibility against him. The two players also play together for the Spain national team and are familiar with each other's strengths.
Mbappe, meanwhile, has scored 12 goals in 12 matches this season. Barcelona's young defender Pau Cubarsi could have an important role in trying to stop him.
In midfield, the contest between Barcelona's Rodri and Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham will also be important. The team whose midfielders have better control of the ball could find it easier to build attacks.
Real Madrid Without Vinicius Junior
Real Madrid will be without key forward Vinicius Junior for the match. The Brazilian player has received a four-match suspension and will not play in the El Clasico.
Rodrygo, Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy are also unavailable. Their absence could force Mourinho to change his team combination.
Barcelona are also dealing with injuries. Dani Olmo, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji are unavailable for the match. Both coaches will have to prepare their teams with the players available to them.
How Real Madrid Can Stop Barcelona's Winning Run
Barcelona prefer to maintain possession and attack continuously. Real Madrid will need to remain organised without the ball and prevent Barcelona from progressing easily through the centre of the pitch.
Real Madrid have players capable of scoring quickly on counter-attacks. If they win possession and move forward immediately, they could find space behind Barcelona's high defensive line. Mbappe's pace could be useful in such situations.
Real Madrid will also need to make use of corners and free kicks. Barcelona, meanwhile, will need to ensure that their defenders remain aware of the open space behind them while attacking.
Barcelona Can Extend Lead to Nine Points
Barcelona are first in the La Liga standings with 27 points, while Real Madrid are third with 21 points. There is currently a six-point gap between the two teams.
A Barcelona victory would take them to 30 points and extend their lead over Real Madrid to nine points. If Real Madrid win, the gap would be reduced to three points.
El Clasico Kickoff Time in India
Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet on Sunday, October 25, at Camp Nou in Spain. The match will begin at 9:00 p.m. local time, with the kickoff scheduled for 1:30 a.m. on Monday, October 26, for viewers in India.
