With the two biggest clubs in Spain sitting level on points atop the La Liga table, the first El Clasico of 2022/23 brings a certain extra bite to the Bernabeu as one of the greatest rivalries in world football takes the field.
Real Madrid host Barcelona with the visitors in first place based on the first tiebreaker: goal differential (+19 vs +12). The two sides are both unbeaten, with seven wins and a draw each.
Barcelona have obliterated La Liga competition thus far, with a massive 20 goals scored to just a single goal conceded through the first eight matches of the season, but slips in Champions League play have left them on the brink of group stage elimination in that tournament, and they enter this match desperate for a turnaround result.
Madrid, meanwhile, have the opposite problem, becoming the first Champions League club to confirm a knockout stage place, but forced to work hard for their league results to this point. Of their seven victories, four have come by a single goal, and they have also benefited from a red card shown to their opponents in three different matches.
Both teams have plenty to gain and a whole lot to lose as well, which should make for a tense and venomous affair in Madrid.
LIVE BLOG: Follow the action of El Clasico live with highlights, commentary, and analysis
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona TV channel, live stream
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| Australia | Mon, Oct. 17 | 01:15 AEST | — | Optus Sport |
| Canada | Sun, Oct. 16 | 10:15 ET | TSN3 | TSN site/app |
| India | Sun, Oct. 16 | 19:45 IST | Sports18 | Voot Select |
| Malaysia | Sun, Oct. 16 | 22:15 MT | beIN Sports | beIN Connect |
| New Zealand | Mon, Oct. 17 | 03:15 NZST | Sky Sports 7 beIN Sports | beIN Connect |
| Singapore | Sun, Oct. 16 | 22:15 SST | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, StarHub TV+ |
| UK | Sun, Oct. 16 | 15:15 BST | Premier Sports 1, LaLigaTV | Premier Player HD |
| USA | Sun, Oct. 16 | 10:15 ET | ESPN Deportes | fuboTV, ESPN+ |
UK: Sunday’s massive El Clasico tilt will be shown in the United Kingdom on Premier Sports 1 and LaLigaTV. It can be streamed via Premier Player.
USA: The match between Real Madrid and Barcelona from the Bernabeu can be seen in the United States on ESPN Deportes, and streamed on ESPN+ along with all other La Liga matches.
ESPN Deportes is also available to stream on fuboTV, and there’s a special offer $40 off on the Latino package quarterly plan through October 16, available for just $59.
Canada: The match will be broadcast in Canada on TSN3, which is also available to stream via the TSN app or official website.
Australia: Australia’s exclusive broadcaster for La Liga is Optus Sport, who also is the exclusive broadcaster for the Premier League.
MORE: La Liga table & standings, with closer look at title, Champions League, and relegation battles
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona lineups, team news
Luka Modric has missed time lately this season, but he returned for league action against Getafe last weekend and was brought off the bench against Shakhtar Donetsk midweek, so he is ready to go in El Clasico on Sunday. His return is a welcome one as Madrid have struggled to progress the ball forward in his absence.
Karim Benzema was left off the squad entirely against Shakhtar, but returns for El Clasico. Vinicius Jr. was also rested midweek, brought off the bench for a 33-minute midweek cameo. He slides back into the lineup in the attack with the struggling Eden Hazard dropping to the bench.
At the back, Antonio Rudiger starts on the bench after suffering a bloody forehead gash while scoring his last-gasp equalizer against Shakhtar. Madrid are reportedly testing out mask models to see him fit for action, but his availability will be a late determination. In his place, David Alaba and Eder Militao come in at center-back.
Thibaut Courtois, meanwhile, misses out again with a back issue, his fifth straight match on the sideilnes. Andriy Lunin will continue in goal, lacking the same imposing presence between the sticks.
MORE: La Liga top goalscorers, Pichichi standings for 2022/23 league season
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 13-Lunin (GK) — 2-Carvajal, 3-Militao, 4-Alaba, 23-Mendy — 10-Modric, 18-Tchouameni, 8-Kroos — 15-Valverde, 9-Benzema, 20-Vinicius.
Real Madrid subs (12): 26-Lopez (GK), 30-Canizares (GK), 16-Odriozola, 17-Vazquez, 6-Nacho, 5-Vallejo, 22-Rudiger, 12-Camavinga, 11-Asensio, 7-Hazard, 21-Rodrygo, 24-Mariano.
🏥 How did our medical team treat @ToniRuediger last night? pic.twitter.com/rAWTtd9CCB
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 12, 2022
Barcelona have some key injuries at the back, and that could make all the difference in this match. Ronald Araujo is out until the middle of November with a hip injury and it’ll be a race against time for him to even be fit for Uruguay’s World Cup campaign. Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen has an ankle problem that will keep him out most of October, and Jules Kounde is missing with a hamstring problem. Hector Bellerin has a leg injury that will see him sidelined a few more weeks.
That leaves just Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia to start at center-back, with Sergi Roberto deputizing at right-back. Xavi will have to decide between sticking with Marcos Alonso at left-back, or bringing Jordi Alba or Alex Balde off the bench.
Up front, Memphis Depay has an injured hamstring, and Ferran Torres has struggled mightily this season, meaning Xavi is likely to stick with Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha flanking Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona projected starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Ter Stegen (GK) — Alonso, Garcia, Pique, Roberto — Pedri, Busquets, Gavi — Dembele, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
MORE: Barcelona on the cusp of elimination after Champions League slip at Camp Nou
🎙 Xavi: Conceding that many goals in this competition is costly pic.twitter.com/T262mBk8js
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 12, 2022
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona betting odds, pick & prediction
Odds via Caesars (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), & SkyBet (UK).
Both these teams have significant flaws coming into this match. Real Madrid have struggled mightily with progression in the absence of Luka Modric, and seeing its attacking moves sputter. Barcelona, meanwhile, have been put to the sword by cataclysmic defensive mistakes.
This should make for an exceptional tactical battle at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid will wish for revenge after the way last season ended, as the Champions League and domestic league double was soured slightly by an inexplicable 4-0 defeat at home to Barcelona in March. Barcelona, meanwhile, are under serious pressure after their Champions League disaster against Inter Milan, and Xavi will be looking to win at all costs.
These two teams have their weaknesses, but injuries could ultimately prove the difference-maker in this match. While Barcelona have been exceptional defensively this season, they have key players missing at the center-back spot. Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Jules Kounde are all out injured, leaving just Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia to take the field. Both men made consequential mistakes against Inter and did not look up to the challenge, and Sergio Busquets also appears to be slowing with age, something Real Madrid could seek to take advantage of.
Pick: Real Madrid to win (+123 on Caesars)
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
| Caesars | Sports Interaction |
SkyBet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid win | +123 | 2.20 | 6/5 |
| Draw | +260 | 3.52 | 13/5 |
| Barcelona win | +210 | 2.91 | 2/1 |
| Both teams to score Y / N |
-180 / +150 | 1.46 / 2.35 | 4/9, 13/8 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals |
-160 / +125 | 1.56 / 2.27 | 8/15, 11/8 |
| Real Madrid -0.5 | +120 | 2.19 | — |
| Barcelona +0.5 | -150 | 1.63 | — |