Barcelona and Real Madrid met only two weeks before this meeting in the Copa del Rey final.Anadolu via Getty Images

FC Barcelona Vs Real Madrid Expected Lineups And Team News, LaLiga 2024/25

by · Forbes

The stage is set for a season-defining Clásico as FC Barcelona and Real Madrid come head to head in La Liga, with only four points separating the two teams as they take on the final four games of the league season. The game will be played at 4:15pm local time (10:15am ET) on Sunday, May 11th, at Montjuïc in Barcelona.

Barcelona has already got one over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, beating them 3-2 in extra-time, only two weeks ago. They also beat Los Blancos in the Spanish Super Cup final and in the previous league meeting between the teams, giving coach Hansi Flick a 100% win rate against Carlo Ancelotti in competitive Clásico meetings.

However, the Catalans do come into this game with the disadvantage of having had their hearts broken on Tuesday night as they crashed out of the Champions League semi-finals to Inter Milan in Italy after 120 minutes.

Real Madrid, who exited the competition in the quarter-finals, have had a full week of rest since securing a 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo. That was their fourth consecutive win in La Liga, though they have been eliminated from the Champions League and the Copa del Rey during that time.

Victory for Barcelona in this game, would mean that they can seal the title in midweek if they beat Espanyol in the Catalan derby. However, if Real Madrid were to win, it would mean that there would be only one point between the two teams with three games left to play.

MORE FOR YOU

Apple About To Make Unexpected Free Offer To All iPhone 13 Users

Apple Brings Back iPhone 15 Pro And iPhone 15 Pro Max In The U.S. — At Lower Price

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Thursday, May 8th

FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid team news

Barcelona faces a number of injury doubts which will influence their team selection. In particular, Hansi Flick faces a dilemma in attack, where veteran forward Robert Lewandowski is believed to be fully fit but has not started a game in three weeks and will be lacking match sharpness, which could allow Ferran Torres to keep his place.

Other doubts include in goal, where Marc-André ter Stegen returned to action against Real Valladolid last weekend. Wojciech Szczęsny has featured regularly in his absence, but Flick faces a decision between the decisions.

In defence, Alejandro Baldé looks unlikely to recover from his hamstring injury in time, meaning that Gerard Martín is likely to continue in the left-back position. Jules Koundé is also ruled out, with Eric García set to fill in there having excelled in Milan in midweek.

For Real Madrid, there are no new injury concerns after the recent muscle injury to Ferland Mendy which will keep him out for at least another week and the tendon injury to Eduardo Camavinga which has ended his season. Antonio Rüdiger has also taken advantage of a six-game ban to operate on his ongoing knee injury, and he is not expected back until the Club World Cup.

Last weekend, Carlo Ancelotti was without forward Rodrygo Goes after he suffered from fever, but he has trained fully and is expected to be available. That may not be enough to earn him a starting spot given the form of Turkish youngster Arda Güler in his place.

Real Madrid Vs. FC Barcelona Expected Lineups

FC Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczęsny; Eric García, Iñigo Martínez, Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín; Pedri, Frenkie de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha; Robert Lewandowski.

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois; Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouameni, Raúl Asencio, Fran García; Dani Ceballos, Luka Modrić; Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior; Kylian Mbappé.