Barcelona and Real Madrid Name El Clásico Starting Lineups

Barcelona and Real Madrid named their starting lineups for the first El Clásico of the 2026-27 La Liga season, with Anthony Gordon in Barcelona’s attack and Jude Bellingham starting for Real Madrid. The match was scheduled for Sunday, October 25, with kickoff listed at 20:00 GMT, or 16:00 ET. The reports did not establish a final score or outcome. Barcelona entered the fixture with nine wins from nine league matches and 27 points, six points ahead of Real Madrid, who had also played nine league games. Barcelona’s perfect league start was distinct from its recent European result: the team had lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 20, according to the preview coverage. Barcelona’s starting XI was Joan García; Xavi Espart, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín and Cancelo; Rodri, Pedri and Fermín López; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Gordon. Real Madrid named Andriy Lunin; Federico Valverde, Konaté, Huijsen and Cucurella; Bernardo Silva and Aurélien Tchouaméni; Arda Güler, Bellingham and Diomande; and Kylian Mbappé. One report said Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was unavailable with flu and that Lunin was making his first appearance of the season. The...