News Focus
- Barcelona will claim back-to-back La Liga titles if they avoid defeat at the Spotify Camp Nou.
- Real Madrid must secure victory to prevent their rivals from lifting the trophy on Sunday.
- Kylian Mbappé and Thibaut Courtois return to the Real Madrid squad after recovering from injuries.
- Hansi Flick faces a defensive dilemma ahead of the clash, with Jules Koundé pushing for a start.
- Aurélien Tchouaméni’s place is uncertain following a reported training ground disagreement with teammates.
The final El Clasico of the season takes place this Sunday at the Spotify Camp Nou. This marks the first meeting between the giants at the stadium since it reopened in November following extensive renovation work.
FC Barcelona enter the match as clear favourites. The Catalans require only a single point to retain their La Liga crown and deny their bitter rivals any hope of catching them in the title race. Hansi Flick’s side have been formidable on home soil since returning to their renovated ground.
The German manager is not expected to make sweeping changes to the team that defeated Osasuna last weekend. However, he faces a key decision in defence. Reports suggest Jules Koundé could come into the starting eleven, which would force either Eric García or Gerard Martín to drop out. Raphinha and Marcus Rashford are both expected to begin the match on the substitutes’ bench despite delivering impressive performances in recent cameo roles.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been dealt several injury blows. Ferland Mendy and Federico Valverde are both unavailable for selection. Fran García is set to deputise at left-back, while Kylian Mbappé returns to the attack after a brief spell on the sidelines. Between the sticks, Thibaut Courtois has fully recovered from the hamstring problem that has kept him out since mid-March, meaning Andriy Lunin will return to the bench.
There remains uncertainty surrounding Aurélien Tchouaméni’s involvement. The French midfielder was reportedly involved in a bust-up with Valverde earlier this week. While some sources suggest he could be dropped for Eduardo Camavinga, others believe he will retain his place in the engine room.
Although Barcelona hold the advantage, Real Madrid possess the quality to cause an upset despite their disrupted preparations. The match promises to be a tense affair with the destiny of the La Liga trophy potentially being decided.