Kylian Mbappe will be in contention to feature for Real Madrid when they take on Barcelona in the final El Clasico of the 2025/26 season at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday.
Real Madrid will aim to keep the fading La Liga title hopes alive when they lock horns with Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou in the final El Clasico of the 2025/26 season on Sunday night. Alvaro Arbeloa has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
The controversies behind the scenes have been in the spotlight this week, with Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni engaging in a bust-up that resulted in the former requiring medical attention. The Merengues have taken disciplinary action against both players, and surprisingly, Tchouameni will be in the squad against Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois and Kylian Mbappe are in contention to take on Barcelona after regaining fitness this week. However, Ferland Mendy (hamstring) and Valverde (head) have joined Eder Militao (hamstring), Dani Carvajal (leg), Dani Ceballos (thigh), Rodrygo (knee), and Arda Guler (thigh) in the treatment room.
Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arbeloa discussed the recent controversy. The Real Madrid head coach said, “I have to tell you two things. First, I am very proud of the decisiveness, speed, and transparency with which the club has acted. And second, the players have already expressed their remorse, acknowledged their mistake, taken responsibility for their actions, and apologised to the fans, the club, and the dressing room.”
“For me, that is enough. What I am not going to do is publicly burn my players because neither of them deserves that. Neither Fede Valverde nor Aurelien Tchouameni. For what they have done for this club over so many years, and I have felt it myself as a fan, for these four months, for what they have shown me day by day—both their commitment, their effort, their love for this jersey—I will not forget that.”
“I believe that Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni are two players who perfectly represent what Real Madrid stands for. They deserve for us to turn the page and give them an opportunity to keep fighting for this club. These are two players who are European champions with Real Madrid, something not every player who has passed through here can say, and I am very proud of them.”
Andriy Lunin will retain his spot between the sticks, with Real Madrid lining up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him against Barcelona on Sunday. The backline will feature Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras.
As for the midfield unit, Thiago Pitarch Pinar will pair up with Eduardo Camavinga in the central areas, with Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham taking creative charge from the wide positions. Finally, Vinicius Junior and Gonzalo Garcia will be the two strikers for the away side, with Kylian Mbappe being a backup option on the bench.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Diaz, Camavinga, Pitarch, Bellingham; Garcia, Vinicius Junior
