This Sunday, the Santiago Bernabéu will witness the first Clásico of the season, with the lead in LaLiga on the line.
Real Madrid currently sit two points ahead of Barcelona and are looking for vengeance after a tumultuous season marked by four losses to their rivals. However, Hansi Flick’s squad is grappling with a series of injuries, particularly among their forwards.
Flick was hopeful about having Raphinha available, but the Brazilian winger is confirmed to miss the match, along with Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Joan García, and Marc-André ter Stegen. This raises the question—who would make it into a combined XI from both teams?
Our correspondents from Madrid and Barcelona, Rodra and Lluís Bou, have crafted their starting line-ups based on the performances of this season.
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Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
Rodra: There’s no doubt about who should be in goal, right?
Bou: Correct. Especially with García and Ter Stegen both out. Thibaut Courtois is a reliable choice. With him, Pedri, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal, there’s no argument.
Rodra: Agreed, I have those four in my starting XI as well.
Defense: Jules Koundé, Eder Militão, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Balde
Rodra: I had some uncertainty about the full-backs. I have Jules Koundé on the right and Alejandro Balde on the left, but I really like Federico Valverde as a right-back too. What are your thoughts?
Bou: I agree. For my center-back duo, I’d opt for Pau Cubarsí and Dean Huijsen. They offer youth, skill, excellent first touches, and great anticipation—unstoppable in defense.
Rodra: But you’re leaving out Eder Militão? I firmly believe he belongs in the starting lineup. I would pair him with Cubarsí. In recent matches, we’ve seen the pre-injury Militão return, and when in form, he’s unparalleled.
Bou: I like Militão too, but we need to assess his comeback. He impressed me against Juventus, but he needs to prove his consistency. I appreciate Cubarsí and Huijsen; I can see them as Spain’s future center-back pairing at the World Cup. Let’s settle on Militão on the right and Cubarsí on the left.
Midfield: Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Arda Güler
Rodra: So, who will join Pedri in the midfield?
Bou: I believe Frenkie de Jong should be included.
Rodra: Completely agree. He’s an excellent player who doesn’t get enough credit. Plus, Arda Güler is performing at a high level this season.
Bou: Definitely, it’s either Güler or Fermín López since Jude Bellingham isn’t quite at his best and Olmo is out. It’s a tough choice because Fermín brings a lot to the table for Barça.
Rodra: While Fermín is impressive, I see Güler as a step above. He’s currently the driving force for Real Madrid. And with Mbappé upfront, it’s less crucial to have someone like Fermín who excels in box entries; we need a player who can deliver passes to Mbappé.
Bou: I can agree with that. So, our midfield will be De Jong, Pedri, and Güler.
Forward: Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
Rodra: In attack, we’re set with Yamal on the right and Mbappé upfront. We still need a left winger.
Bou: If Raphinha were at his prime, he’d be my pick without hesitation. But now, it’ll come down to a choice between Vinícius Júnior and Marcus Rashford, correct?
Rodra: Vini offers more completeness than Rashford. He contributes significantly to the team’s dynamics and has shown he can reach a higher level than Rashford. The Vinícius from two seasons ago was simply unstoppable.
Bou: While I agree that the best version of Vinícius surpasses Rashford, I’m not convinced by Vinícius’s current form. He’s inconsistent, shining only on certain days. Rashford has impressed me since joining Barça, making significant contributions in terms of goals and assists. It’s a close call, but let’s opt for Vinícius for now. We may need to reevaluate as the season progresses.
Rodra: What does our attacking bench look like? Rashford, Ferran Torres, Rodrygo, Brahim Díaz …
Bou: And even though Lewandowski is injured, he’s still a scoring threat. Any team would be lucky to have him as their first substitute, ready to impact games.
ESPN’s Combined Clásico XI
GK: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
DF: Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Alejandro Balde (Barcelona)
MF: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Pedri (Barcelona), Arda Güler (Real Madrid)
FW: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)