Barcelona v Real Madrid LIVE: El Clasico team news, line-ups and prediction as visitors in crisis

Robert Lewandowski is only on the bench for Barcelona as Marcus Rashford starts

Barcelona XI: J. Garcia; E. Garcia, Curbasi, Martin, Cancelo; Pedri, Gavi; Torres, Olmo, Fermin; Rashford.

Vinicius Jr leads Real Madrid from the left of the forward line.

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Garcia; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Brahim Diaz, Gonzalo, Vinicius Jr.

The World Cup, of course, is looming ever larger into view. Have you got your ears around Copa Independent, our NEW football podcast, yet? No? Why not? In the latest episode, Miguel Delaney, Lawrence Ostlere and Kieran Jackson dig into why being England manager is just so hard…

We’ll get back to the build-up to tonight’s Clasico in a moment, but it’s been a big week in Europe. Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain will meet in a Champions League final of contrasts, as Miguel Delaney explains.

Speaking on Friday, Hansi Flick insisted that Barcelona will not be preoccupied with matters in the opposition camp and must focus on their own game.

“The only thing we have to focus on is our own display,” he said. “We’ve had a fantastic season as a team. We want to play our game, with our style and as a team.“It’s important for the supporters, for the players and also for us, the staff. We want to win the title, the second in a row. Nothing else matters. We’re fully focused on that.”

We must send our condolences to Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who lost his father this weekend.

“FC Barcelona and the entire blaugrana family wish to send all our love to Hansi Flick after the passing of his father,” the Catalan club posted on X. “We share in your sorrow and our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.”

Real Madrid said: “Real Madrid CF, its president and its Board of Directors deeply regret the passing of the father of Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona coach.

“Real Madrid wishes to express its condolences and affection to his family and all his loved ones. Rest in peace.”

Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, is the subject of significant ire from Real Madrid supporters, who feel he isn’t exactly rushing back from a hamstring injury with the World Cup around the corner. The France forward insists otherwise:

Alvaro Arbeloa has urged his Real Madrid players to show the right kind of fight in Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona.

A turbulent week could end in the most miserable way possible for Real, with bitter rivals Barca needing just a point to clinch the title in La Liga with three games to spare.

The Catalan outfit are currently 11 points ahead of second-placed Real, who are lurching from crisis to crisis.

Kylian Mbappe will be missing for Real Madrid today, again, as he is not in the travelling squad. With little left to play for, perhaps it is not worth the risk to rush him back before the end of the season?

Three players will have a chance to impress on the biggest stage this evening, with Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcus Rashford still fighting for places – and potentially even a starting berth – in the England squad for this summer’s World Cup.

While Jude Bellingham has marked himself out as a near-certain starter in midfield for the Three Lions, both Alexander-Arnold and Rashford have more work to do to be included in the squad, let alone to secure a spot in the starting XI.

England boss Thomas Tuchel seemingly does not have a lot of confidence in Real Madrid full-back Alexander-Arnold, with the German previously criticising the defensive aspect of his game. However, his hand may be forced by the injury to Tino Livramento, who could miss the rest of the season with a back problem.

Rashford could benefit from a similar situation, though more due to a general lack of competition in the left-wing position. While Anthony Gordon should also be on the plane to the USA, Rashford could benefit from the Newcastle man’s recent lack of form as the pair fight to start on the left in England’s opener against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June.