There are crucial points on the line for Los Blancos as they aim to keep in touch with a Raphinha-inspired Barcelona, who are already opening up some breathing space atop the Liga table. They are already six points clear of Real, meaning Jose Mourinho’s side have no room for error as they visit the Blaugrana.
Injuries are already hampering his campaign, though, with Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio and Rodrygo all injured. He will be further shorthanded on Sunday by the absence of Vinicius Junior, who remains suspended after being sent off against Villarreal.
Those absentees will force him to shuffle the deck. Arda Guler is expected to be deployed in the wide areas, opening a space for Bernardo Silva to fill in at the base of midfield.
Vinicius Junior will miss El Clasico as he serves a suspension
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Yan Diomande will take up the opposite flank with Jude Bellingham in as No10 and Kylian Mbappe leading the line.
Elsewhere, the versatile Fede Valverde has been used as an auxiliary right-back and should be used again here, as he was against Leipzig midweek. Marc Cucurella will return in the opposite full-back position.
Barcelona also have a number of injuries to contend with. Dani Olmo, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia are all due to miss this match, with Jules Kounde a doubt due to an ankle injury. He is not expected to be involved.
With the Frenchmen out, it will be Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart lining up at full-back.
There are few surprises expected elsewhere. Lamine Yamal and Anthony Gordon will take up the wings, with Raphinha starting at striker as he looks to extend his remarkable goalscoring form.
Barcelona predicted XI: J Garcia; Cancelo, Cubarsi, Martin, Espart; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Gordon; Raphinha
Injured: Olmo, Barghji, Christensen, E. Garcia, Kounde
Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois; Valverde, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Tchouameni, Bernardo Silva; Guler, Bellingham, Diomande; Mbappe
Injured: Asencio, Mendy, Rodrygo
Suspended: Vinicius Jr
Time and date: 8pm BST on Sunday, October 25
Venue: Spotify Nou Camp
How to watch: Premier Sports 1
Odds: Barcelona 8/13, Real Madrid 3/1, Draw 4/1 (odds sourced from betting sites UK)
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