At a glance
- Kylian Mbappé has been left out of Real Madrid’s squad for El Clásico due to a hamstring injury, depriving them of LaLiga’s top scorer.
- Barcelona need only avoid defeat at the Camp Nou to be crowned LaLiga champions in front of their biggest rivals.
- Federico Valverde is also absent after a training-ground incident involving Aurélien Tchouaméni, who has been included in the squad.
Mbappé absence leaves Real Madrid without their main attacking weapon
Real Madrid will face Barcelona without Kylian Mbappé on Sunday, after the French forward was left out of the squad for El Clásico at the Camp Nou. Mbappé had been working to recover from a hamstring injury suffered last month. The club decided against risking their leading scorer in a match that could decide the LaLiga title.
The timing could hardly be worse. Mbappé finishes the week as LaLiga’s top scorer with 24 goals, and his absence removes Madrid’s most reliable finisher from the most important fixture remaining on their calendar. Madrid must win to keep the title race alive. A draw or defeat would hand Hansi Flick’s side the championship on the spot.
Barcelona need one result to win LaLiga at El Clásico
Barça arrive at this Clásico sitting 11 points clear with four games to play. Meaning anything other than a Madrid victory will confirm them as champions. Flick is on the verge of becoming one of the few coaches this century to win back-to-back LaLiga titles in his first two seasons at the club.
Madrid, meanwhile, arrive damaged. Beyond Mbappé, Federico Valverde is also unavailable after a training-ground incident involving Aurélien Tchouaméni, with the club opening disciplinary proceedings against both players. Tchouaméni has been included in the squad, but the episode has added emotional turbulence to an already fraught week that has included speculation over a potential coaching change at Valdebebas.
Vinicius carries Real Madrid’s hopes at the Camp Nou
With Mbappé absent, Vinicius Junior becomes Madrid’s central attacking figure. The Brazilian had already kept the title race mathematically alive by scoring twice against Espanyol last weekend to delay Barcelona’s celebrations by at least one more round.
Jude Bellingham will need to carry greater creative responsibility. While Brahim Díaz and Gonzalo García are among the forward options named in the squad. But the match belongs to Vinicius now. If Madrid are to stop the party, he has to be decisive.
Real Madrid have won eight of their last 12 LaLiga Clásicos, a remarkable recent record. But they have rarely arrived at the Camp Nou in worse shape than this. Without their talisman, without one of their midfield leaders, and with a dressing room under scrutiny. Barcelona have the trophy within reach. Madrid have one mission: stop them from lifting it.
