Real Madrid vs. Barcelona live score, updates, highlights for El Clasico as game kicks off at Bernabeu

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El Clasico is back to being a top-of-the-table clash as Real Madrid and Barcelona enter the match tied atop La Liga. It’s the first of two head-to-head battles in league play and the stakes will be high, especially given what transpired in midweek.

Barcelona all but confirmed a second consecutive group stage exit in the Champions League on Wednesday, meaning they will likely begin to prioritize La Liga, which makes this match extra important. Barcelona currently have the edge over Real Madrid on goal differential and at least a draw at the Bernabeu would keep them in first place.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are charging ahead in Champions League action but will want to maintain control of La Liga given that’s really all Barcelona have left to play for. Los Blancos will be aware that a victory over Barcelona could send their rival’s season into a momentary tailspin.

The Sporting News will be following the Real Madrid vs. Barcelona match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

 MORE: Barcelona on the cusp of elimination after Champions League slip at Camp Nou

Real Madrid vs. Barcelona live score

  1H 2H Final
Real Madrid 0 — —
Barcelona 0 — —

Goals:
None

Real Madrid vs. Barcelona live updates, highlights from El Clasico

5th min: Both teams with a bit of feeling out, and it’s Raphinha who has the first shot of the match, from long distance slightly left of center. It’s easily held by Andriy Lunin, in for the injured Thibaut Courtois.

1st min: Kickoff at the Bernabeu for El Clasico! We’re under way! What a spectacle this match is.

Pre-Match: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona (kickoff at 4:15pm local CEST)

5 mins to kick: Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema have played a combined 49 matches against today’s opponent, with a combined 17 goals. Will either or both add to their tally?

11 mins to kick: Carlo Ancelotti has played this match down as “not life or death,” knowing the season is long and this game “has come early” in the campaign. The league title cannot be won or lost in this match, but it can go a long way towards setting the tone for the coming month leading into the World Cup.

37 mins to kick: Real Madrid fans welcome the Blancos squad to the Bernabeu.

51 mins to kick: Easily the most insane number from this incredible rivalry is that, through 249 matches played between these two sides, including 184 league meetings, the two teams have scored the exact same amount of goals against each other: 295. An incredible representation of the competitive nature between these two teams.

68 mins to kick: For a full preview of today’s El Clasico, here’s a betting preview from The Sporting News as we look ahead at what to expect. A rundown of who will win, who will score, how many corners, and much more! Plenty of stats and analysis ahead of today’s huge match.

81 mins to kick: The Barcelona lineup is out, and the biggest news is that Gavi has been dropped to the bench, replaced by Frenkie de Jong in midfield. It’s a massive opportunity for the Dutch international to prove he belongs in the lineup after being cast aside by Xavi for much of this season so far.

90 mins to kick: Xavi, who will reach 50 matches in charge of Barcelona today, has spoken pre-match about the need to “enjoy” this fixture. With Barcelona likely bounced from the Champions League after the midweek debacle against Inter, the Barcelona boss says being manager of the Catalan club is a “thankless” job, saying that “it’s better to be a player. You enjoy being a player more than a coach.” However, he says “this is a game to enjoy,” so he wants himself and his players to get back to having fun on the pitch.

Xavi is under a lot of pressure at the moment, which seems a bit silly because his management is a big reason why the club was dragged back to winning ways after last year’s catastrophic first half. Still, defeat in this match would see Xavi’s job security teeter on the brink.

101 mins to kick: The Real Madrid lineup is already out, and sure enough Los Blancos are without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, hero of the Champions League final, who is struggling with a back injury. Andriy Lunin continues in his place. Otherwise, there are few surprises. Eder Militao and David Alaba are the center-backs, with Antonio Rudiger on the bench after his bloody winner against Shakhtar Donetsk midweek.

115 mins to kick: Antonio Rudiger will be wearing a mask for this match to protect the gash that he suffered while scoring the stoppage-time equalizer in the UEFA Champions League. The club posted an inside look on social media of the immediate aftermath, showing how the medical staff handled the situation.

120 mins to kickoff: If you see a different logo on the front of the Barcelona kits, that’s intentional. It’s the owl logo of musical & recording artist Drake. Barcelona’s main kit sponsor Spotify is promoting Drake’s milestone of 50 billion downloads, the first artist to reach that mark on the music streaming platform.

Real Madrid vs. Barcelona lineups, team news

The standard starting XI is expected for Real Madrid outside of starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (back issue), who misses his fifth straight match and will continue to be replaced by his backup Andriy Lunin.

Vinicius Jr and Eder Militao are expected back after being rested in midweek. Antonio Rudiger is reportedly set to start on the bench after suffering a bloody forehead gash on his stoppage-time equalizer against Shakhtar. The German international will be fitted with a custom mask to protect the wound should he enter the game.

Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 13-Lunin (GK) — 2-Carvajal, 3-Militao, 4-Alaba, 23-Mendy — 10-Modric, 18-Tchouameni, 8-Kroos — 15-Valverde, 9-Benzema, 20-Vinicius.

Real Madrid subs (12): 26-Lopez (GK), 30-Canizares (GK), 16-Odriozola, 17-Vazquez, 6-Nacho, 5-Vallejo, 22-Rudiger, 12-Camavinga, 11-Asensio, 7-Hazard, 21-Rodrygo, 24-Mariano.

Barcelona have some key injuries at the back: Ronald Araujo (hip) is out, as are Andreas Christensen and Hector Bellerin. But Jules Kounde has recovered from his hamstring injury and is ready to slot in at center-back in place of the struggling Gerard Pique. The talk was that left-back Alex Balde will be moved to right-back to track the speedy Vinicius Jr., although it appears that’s unlikely as Sergi Roberto is in the lineup as a right-back deputy.

While pre-match reports indicated that Gavi would be moved forward into an attacking role, he instead drops to the bench instead, with Frenkie de Jong on in his place. Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha continue in their attacking roles, while fellow forward Memphis Depay will miss out due to injury.

Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Ter Stegen (GK) — 28-Balde, 23-Kounde, 24-Garcia, 20-Roberto — 8-Pedri, 5-Busquets, 21-De Jong — 7-Dembele, 9-Lewandowski, 22-Raphinha.

Barcelona subs (12): 26-Pena (GK), 36-Tenas (GK), 18-Alba, 3-Pique, 20-Roberto, 29-Casado, 19-Kessie, 30-Gavi, 32-Pablo Torre, 10-Fati, 11-Ferran Torres.

MORE: La Liga table & standings, with closer look at title, Champions League, and relegation battles

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Barcelona

  Date Time TV channel Streaming
USA Sun, Oct. 16 10:15 ET ESPN Deportes fuboTV, ESPN+
UK Sun, Oct. 16 15:15 ET Premier Sports 1, LaLigaTV Premier Player
Australia Mon, Oct. 17 01:15 AEST — Optus Sport
Canada Sun, Oct. 16 10:15 ET TSN3 TSN
India Sun, Oct. 16 19:45 ET Sports18 Voot Select
New Zealand Mon, Oct. 17 03:15 NZST Sky Sports 7 beIN Sports beIN Sports Connect
Malaysia Sun, Oct. 16 22:15 MT beIN Sports beIN Sports
Singapore Sun, Oct. 16 22:15 SST beIN Sports beIN Sports, StarHub TV+

UK: Sunday’s massive El Clasico tilt will be shown in the United Kingdom on Premier Sports 1 and LaLigaTV. It can also be streamed via Premier Player.

USA: The match between Real Madrid and Barcelona from the Bernabeu can be seen in the United States on ESPN Deportes, and streamed on ESPN+ along with all other La Liga matches.

ESPN Deportes is also available to stream on fuboTV, and there’s a special offer $40 off on the Latino package quarterly plan through October 16, available for just $59.

Canada: The match will be broadcast in Canada on TSN3, which is also available to stream via the TSN site or app.

Australia: Australia’s exclusive La Liga broadcaster is Optus Sport, who also carries the Premier League.

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