Three keys to a Real Madrid win over Barcelona in El Clásico

Real Madrid have the opportunity to make a statement and build a five-point lead over Barcelona in LaLiga table today. Here’s what Xabi Alonso’s men need to do if they want to secure the win.

1. Defend Barcelona’s transition chances efficiently.

Barça will surely try to take advantage of their speed on offense, with players like Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford and even Ferrán Torres or Fermín López being very dangerous in transition. Dean Huijsen is not the most explosive defender in world football while Militao has —understandably— lost some of his speed after two ACL surgeries. Carreras and Valverde will need to pay close attention to through balls if Madrid want to defend efficiently.

2. Set the tempo and control the game. Win the midfield battle.

Real Madrid will have the personnel to force Pedri and Frenkie De Jong to defend. It will be extremely important for Los Blancos to play with aggression and take the game to Barça and that should also help the Santiago Bernabéu crowd getting involved. Tchouameni, Güler and Bellingham will need to prove that they can distribute the ball efficiently while also creating scoring chances.

3. Exploit Barcelona’s offside trap.

Even if Madrid can control the game and win the battle for the possession of the ball, Mbappé and Vinicius Junior should also have a ton of opportunities to counterattack. Barcelona have been very vulnerable in these chances so far this season, and Sevilla proved that their offside trap can be exploited.

HOW TO WATCH, STREAM EL CLÁSICO

Date: 10/26/2025

Time: 16:15 CET, 11:15am EST.

Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain.

Available TV: DAZN La Liga (Spain), ESPN Deportes (USA).

Available Streaming: ESPN+ (USA)

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