Barcelona v Real Madrid: Hansi Flick and Jose Mourinho renew rivalry in first Clasico meeting

Barcelona and Real Madrid will face one another at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday with new-look squads and a fresh coaching contest between Hansi Flick and Jose Mourinho adding to the significance of the latest Clasico.

Barcelona could hand as many as six players their first experience of the fixture. New signings Dominik Livakovic, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon are all in contention, while Brian Farinas has moved into the first-team squad.

Xavi Espart could also make his Clasico debut. The La Masia graduate was named among Barcelona’s substitutes for last season’s meeting but did not play.

Flick will be forced to make at least four changes to the Barcelona team that started the previous Clasico at Spotify Camp Nou. Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres have left the club, while Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo are unavailable because of injury.

Mourinho begins second Madrid spell

Real Madrid have also added several new players ahead of the 2026/27 season, including Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Carlos Espi, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva.

The most notable alteration is in the dugout, where Mourinho has returned for a second spell as Real Madrid coach. The Portuguese previously led the club from 2010 to 2013.

Madrid must make at least three changes to the side selected for the last Clasico. Fran Garcia and Gonzalo Garcia have departed, while Vinicius Junior is suspended after being sent off against Villarreal. Mourinho’s recent selections indicate that he could make as many as seven changes.

Sunday’s game will be the first Clasico between Flick and Mourinho, although they have already met once as opposing managers. Their only previous encounter came in the 2019/20 Champions League group stage, when Flick’s Bayern Munich beat Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur 3-1.

Kingsley Coman, Thomas Muller and former Barcelona player Philippe Coutinho scored for Bayern. The German club went on to complete a historic season by winning six trophies.

Flick has since developed a strong record against Real Madrid, winning six of his seven matches against them. Four of those victories helped Barcelona claim major silverware: two Spanish Super Cups, the Copa del Rey and the 2025/26 La Liga title.

Those wins came against three different Madrid managers. Flick beat Carlo Ancelotti four times, recorded one victory and one defeat in two meetings with Xabi Alonso, and defeated Alvaro Arbeloa in their only encounter.

Mourinho’s first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu included 17 matches against Barcelona between 2010 and 2013. He won five, drew six and lost six, with that period featuring Barcelona’s famous 5-0 La Liga victory in 2010/11 and a Champions League semi-final between the clubs in the same season.

The league table gives Sunday’s match added importance. Barcelona have won every La Liga game so far this season and lead the standings, while Real Madrid are third, six points behind their rivals.