Real Madrid Vs. Barcelona Combined Xi: Los Blancos Edge Rivals In Star-studded Team

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El Clásico. World football’s astir iconic fixture contested by nan planet’s greatest.

Sunday marks nan first gathering betwixt arch rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona successful nan 2025–26 run and nan conflict astatine nan Santiago Bernabéu could person immense ramifications connected nan destination of this season’s La Liga title.

Reigning champions Barça presently way Madrid, but that could each alteration this weekend. A tantalizing fixture brought to life by nan astir magical footballers connected nan planet.

Both sides boast an abundance of elite talent successful each azygous department, making a mixed XI rather nan team. Here’s Sports Illustrated’s broadside based connected availability.

GK: Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois is an elite stopper. / IMAGO/Sportimage

There tin beryllium nary arguments from Barcelona supporters complete nan starting goalkeeper successful a mixed lineup, pinch Thibaut Courtois taking residence betwixt nan sticks. Even if 2 of Barça’s 3 goalkeepers weren’t sidelined pinch injury, nan towering Belgian would still beryllium a guaranteed starter.

Courtois has been successful tremendous shape for nine and state erstwhile again this play and will beryllium definite to make Barcelona’s duty each nan much challenging connected Sunday.

RB: Jules Koundé

Jules Koundé is simply a apical performer. / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal some wounded doubts for Sunday, Jules Koundé is nan undisputed starter successful our XI. The Frenchman is ever truthful accordant and has been integral to Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.

Alexander-Arnold has nan imaginable to bargain Koundé’s spot successful nan future, but for now nan 26-year-old is our starting correct back.

CB: Éder Militão

Éder Militão is ever truthful bully erstwhile not plagued by injury. / Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Antonio Rüdiger’s semipermanent wounded offers Éder Militão a promotion supra his clubmate. The Brazilian has struggled pinch injuries consistently complete caller seasons, but fewer tin reason against his singular value erstwhile fresh and firing.

Quick, beardown and commanding successful nan bosom of defense, Miltão is simply a awesome halfway back.

CB: Pau Cubarsí

Pau Cubarsí is wise beyond his years. / Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

Pau Cubarsí’s ascent to superstardom has been arsenic singular arsenic it’s been swift. The 18-year-old boasts exceptional maturity and composure fixed his tender age, seldom making a incorrect measurement successful Flick’s demanding system.

The Spaniard is already among nan world’s champion cardinal defenders and has regularly proven his credentials up against world-class halfway forwards. He will person to beryllium them again connected Sunday.

LB: Alejandro Balde

Alejandro Balde has battled injuries successful caller seasons. / Diego Souto/Getty Images

Álvaro Carreras has made an fantabulous commencement to life astatine Madrid pursuing his summertime move from Benfica and pushes Alejandro Balde intimately for a spot successful nan XI. However, owed to nan longevity and consistency of nan Barcelona near back, he conscionable makes nan trim up of his compatriot.

Balde represents nan modern afloat back, tirelessly moving nan helping and providing relentless attacking support. It’s difficult to judge nan Barça prima is only 22.

DM: Aurélien Tchouaméni

Aurélien Tchouaméni is successful fantabulous form. / Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images

Madrid and Barça are some blessed pinch an abundance of ace talents successful nan motor room. Frenkie de Jong has been terrific for La Blaugrana, while Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde ever present for Los Blancos.

However, Aurélien Tchouaméni has been sensational successful nan bosom of Xabi Alonso’s midfield this season, screening nan backline efficaciously pinch his substance of tenacity and awesome positional intelligence.

DM: Pedri

A maestro connected nan ball. / David Ramos/Getty Images

Pedri is 1 of world football’s champion midfielders—if not the best—and has continued to present decisive and majestic performances successful Barcelona’s motor room. The Spaniard simply oozes people successful nan double pivot, moving successful cleanable tandem pinch midfield partner De Jong.

Barça thin heavy connected their exceptional playmaker to power matches, unlocking opponents pinch his stellar distribution. He’s simply unplayable erstwhile connected song.

RW: Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal is unstoppable. / Eric Alonso/Getty Images

Much for illustration his teammate Pedri, Lamine Yamal is unstoppable. Injuries person proved a vexation early successful nan campaign, but nan electrical teen is already producing unthinkable numbers arsenic he looks to build connected his second-place decorativeness successful nan 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Yamal has 8 extremity contributions successful 7 games this play and has regularly tormented Madrid successful caller times pinch his speed, trickery and precision. He’s nan astir enjoyable subordinate connected nan satellite to watch erstwhile operating astatine afloat tilt.

AM: Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham is moving his measurement backmost to his best. / Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Jude Bellingham’s minutes person been constricted since nan opening of nan play owed to injury, but nan midfielder’s midweek capacity successful triumph complete Juventus underscored his immense talent erstwhile astatine afloat lucifer sharpness.

Few tin begrudge Bellingham a spot successful our XI based connected past in installments complete existent form, pinch nan England world excessively bully to ignore. Barcelona supporters person discovered that nan difficult measurement successful past Clásicos.

LW: Vinícius Júnior

Vinícius Júnior is ever a livewire. / Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images

Raphinha’s wounded issues—the Brazilian is simply a awesome uncertainty for El Clásico this weekend—mean his compatriot Vinícius Júnior waltzes into our team. While now often overshadowed by Kylian Mbappé’s genius, nan turbo-charged winger remains a sensation successful his ain right.

While he’s yet to deed his stride successful Europe this season, his La Liga shape has been devastating. The 25-year-old has managed 5 goals 4 assists successful 9 convention appearances, destroying correct backs pinch his earthy velocity and astounding agility.

ST: Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé cannot extremity scoring. / Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Even a fully-fit Robert Lewandowski couldn’t compete pinch Mbappé. The Frenchman is connected different satellite correct now, pinch only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland capable to compete pinch his astonishing goalscoring numbers.

Mbappé has 15 goals successful conscionable 12 appearances for Madrid successful each competitions this term, only blanking against Mallorca and Juventus. He has 3 braces and a hat-trick to his sanction and we’re not moreover successful November yet.