Last season Barcelona romped to four Clasico victories over Real Madrid but led by in-form striker Kylian Mbappe, Los Blancos are aiming to redress the balance on Sunday in LaLiga.

Hansi Flick's side won a domestic treble, beating Madrid twice in LaLiga and in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals, precipitating the end of Carlo Ancelotti's reign.

The Italian's replacement Xabi Alonso has started well, with Madrid leading Barcelona by two points at the top of the table going into the clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid have some doubts around them regarding their performance in big matches, having lost against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinals this summer and then suffering a 5-2 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in a derby in September.

⏩ NEXT MATCH
🆚 @FCBarcelona
🗓️ 26/10 | 16:15 CET pic.twitter.com/5Pv7MtQX53

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 23, 2025

A victory in the Clasico would open up a five-point gap on their rivals and ease those concerns, while Flick's Barca are yet to reach the same level they managed last season.

Madrid striker Mbappe, however, has hit new heights in the current campaign after finishing the previous campaign strongly.

Mbappe scored in his 11 previous consecutive matches for club and country before Wednesday's Champions League win over Juventus, in which Jude Bellingham netted the only goal.

The 26-year-old has scored 10 of Madrid's 20 LaLiga goals, leading Spain's scoring charts, and has 15 for his club across all competitions, totalling 54 per cent of their goals.

"We're not dependent on him," said Madrid coach Alonso last week, although the statistics hint otherwise.

"We are very happy with his performance, he's being decisive."

Mbappe struggled for confidence and form in his early days at Madrid, with his first Clasico a huge disappointment.

Exactly a year before this weekend's Clasico, Barcelona visited the Bernabeu and came away with a 4-0 victory, a match notable for the French superstar's struggle to beat the Catalans' high defensive line in his first outing against them for Madrid.

Mbappe had one goal disallowed for offside and was caught offside eight times in total. The forward was "shrunken and without venom", wrote Spanish newspaper AS.

"It's time to change my situation and show who I am as a player," pledged Mbappe a few weeks later as Madrid continued to slump.

By the time Mbappe faced Barcelona next, in the Spanish Super Cup final in January, he had clicked into a higher gear.

Madrid were dismantled 5-2, but Mbappe found the net, as he did in their far tighter 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat.

In May Mbappe, now in full flow, hit a hat-trick against Barcelona but Los Blancos still fell 4-3 at the Olympic stadium as Flick's side virtually wrapped up the league title.

This season Turkish playmaker Arda Guler has started to form a strong connection with the forward, with a knack for spotting Mbappe's bursts forward.

"Arda gets between the lines and there he finds Mbappe well," explained Alonso.

With Barcelona struggling badly in defence at the start of the current campaign, Madrid are confident Mbappe can get in behind to devastating effect on Sunday.

The cancellation of LaLiga's plan to hold a Barcelona match in Miami in December is a "missed opportunity" for Spanish football, the league's president said on Wednesday, while elsewhere its collapse was celebrated.

Champions Barca were set to face Villarreal in the United States on 20 December, which would have been the first European league fixture to be played abroad.

The match will now be held at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica home as normal.

LaLiga said their promoter for the match decided to cancel the organisation of the event because of "uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks".

The league's president Javier Tebas took to X to express regret at not being able to seize "this historic opportunity", adding that Spanish football had missed a chance to "develop, to project itself in the world and reinforce its future".

Villarreal were furious about the timing of the announcement to cancel the plans – the news breaking during their Champions League defeat by Manchester City on Tuesday – and also blasted LaLiga's management of the whole event.

"(We) wish to express our deep displeasure with LaLiga over the poor handling of the match scheduled to be played in Miami," said the club in a statement.

Villarreal said there had been "no progress" in terms of organisation and the club would have "withdrawn from the project" themselves later in the week if various issues were not resolved to their satisfaction at a planned meeting with LaLiga.

The plan to hold the match in the United States had also been criticised by various parties within Spain, contributing towards its cancellation.

The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) organised protests against it last weekend, with players from every team remaining immobile for 15 seconds at the start of each league match.

Spanish giants Real Madrid also railed against it institutionally, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Tuesday it would adulterate the competition.

Madrid captain Dani Carvajal told Tebas the game being held abroad would be "a stain" on the competition.

Tebas added: "We are appealing to the 'integrity of the competition' from those who have been questioning this same integrity for years, putting pressure on referees and managers, constructing distorted narratives or using political and media pressure as a sporting tool."

The president of Spain's Sports Council (CSD), Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes, said LaLiga had not gone the right way about trying to arrange the game.

"The episode we experienced with Miami... shows that this is not the way to do things," he said on Wednesday.

"Before taking an initiative of this nature – a decision so significant that it could undoubtedly have affected the integrity of the competition – it was necessary to have dialogue, an agreement among the participants, all the clubs.

"Of course, the players should be considered, as well as the fans."

'SEISMIC VICTORY'

Rodriguez Uribes said "absolute transparency" was necessary, as well as "appropriate regulations" in place for this kind of game, which do not currently exist.

"At the CSD we will always prefer – as we have said from the very beginning – to bring sporting events to Spain rather than take them out," he added.

The AFE released a statement highlighting "the lack of transparency, dialogue, and coherence" from LaLiga around the game.

"The players spoke out unanimously on the pitch last week to send a powerful message: without players, there is no football," added the footballers' association.

In February, Serie A still plan to hold a match between AC Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, despite a similar backlash from both fans and players.

Football Supporters Europe (FSE), a representative body on fan issues, celebrated the cancelation of the Miami match as a "seismic victory", and warned the Italian top flight to abandon their plans.

"Doubling down on this failed idea would be an act of self-inflicted damage to the league's reputation, to Italian football, and to the game as a whole," said FSE in a statement.

The cancellation of LaLiga's plan to hold a Barcelona match in Miami in December is a "missed opportunity" for Spanish football, the league's president said Wednesday.

Champions Barca were set to face Villarreal in the United States on December 20, which would have been the first European league fixture to be played abroad.

The match will now be held at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica home as normal.

LaLiga said their promoter for the match decided to cancel the organisation of the event because of "uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks".

LaLiga president Javier Tebas took to X to express regret at not being able to seize "this historic opportunity", adding that Spanish football had missed a chance to "develop, to project itself in the world and reinforce its future".

The plan to hold the match in the United States had been criticised by various parties.

The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) organised protests against it last weekend, with players from every team remaining immobile for 15 seconds at the start of each league match.

Spanish giants Real Madrid also railed against it institutionally, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Tuesday it would adulterate the competition.

Madrid captain Dani Carvajal told Tebas the game being held abroad would be "a stain" on the competition.

Tebas added: "We are appealing to the 'integrity of the competition' from those who have been questioning this same integrity for years, putting pressure on referees and managers, constructing distorted narratives or using political and media pressure as a sporting tool."

Real Madrid host Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday, the first showdown of the season between the LaLiga giants.

Moroccan Brahim Díaz will be the only African player potentially involved this time round, but over the years players from the continent have more than made their mark on one of the game’s elite club fixtures.

We look back at the top 10 appearances for African players in El Clasico down the years.

SAMUEL OKUNOWO (NIGERIA)

Club: Barcelona

El Clasicos: 1

The Nigerian had a brief stay at Barcelona in the 1998/99 season and came off the bench in a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid. He was not in the squad for the other LaLiga fixture that season, which ended in a 3-0 Barça win.

ALEX SONG (CAMEROON)

Club: Barcelona

El Clasicos: 2

Song battled to get into a Barça side that had Sergio Busquets as one of the first names on the teamsheet, and so the Cameroon midfielder was limited to two El Clasico appearances. He came off the bench in a 2-1 LaLiga win in the 2013/14 season and featured in a 2-1 Spanish Super Cup victory the season before, when he was also a substitute.

EMMANUEL AMUNIKE (NIGERIA)

Club: Barcelona

El Clasicos: 3

Injuries heavily impacted the Nigerian forward’s stay at Camp Nou, and in four seasons he did not feature in a single LaLiga clash with Real Madrid. However, he did make three appearances overall, two in the Copa del Rey and one in the Spanish Super Cup. He was never on the losing side: the Copa del Rey games in 1996/97 finished 3-2 and 1-1, while the Super Cup ended 2-1 to the Catalans.

GEREMI NJITAP (CAMEROON)

Club: Real Madrid

El Clasicos: 3

The Cameroon midfielder was at Real between 1999 and 2002 but only featured in three El Clasico matches in that time, recording a win, a draw and a loss, though he played every minute. In 1999/00 he was involved in a 2-2 draw and a 3-0 win, but the following season he was on the end of a 2-0 defeat, and his influence at the club lessened after that.

MAHAMADOU DIARRA (MALI)

Club: Real Madrid

El Clasicos: 4

The Malian defensive midfielder was a key part of the Real Madrid setup under Fabio Capello before his influence waned, limiting him to just four El Clasico appearances. He was unbeaten in those matches and even managed an assist, playing every minute.

He featured in a 2-0 home win in 2006/07, with the return fixture ending 3-3. The following year Real claimed 1-0 and 4-1 victories, with Diarra assisting Gonzalo Higuaín. Despite staying at the club until 2010/11, he did not feature in another El Clasico.

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR (TOGO)

Club: Real Madrid

El Clasicos: 4

The tall Togolese striker featured in four El Clasicos on loan from Manchester City, but only one in LaLiga, none as a starter, all during the 2010/11 season. Real edged Barça 1-0 in the Copa del Rey final as Adebayor came off the bench, while the only league meeting he featured in ended 1-1.

The teams also met in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, with Barça advancing after a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 Real defeat. Incredibly, all of these matches were played between 16 April and 3 May 2011, a span of under three weeks.

MICHAEL ESSIEN (GHANA)

Club: Real Madrid

El Clasicos: 4

All four of Essien’s El Clasico appearances came in the 2012/13 season while on loan from Chelsea, and he was never on the losing side, two wins and two draws. In LaLiga he started a 2-1 win at the Bernabéu and came off the bench in a 2-2 draw.

The teams also met in the Copa del Rey, where Essien started a 1-1 draw in the first leg and came off the bench in a 3-1 away win in the second.

YAYA TOURÉ (IVORY COAST)

Club: Barcelona

El Clasicos: 5

Touré experienced both thumping wins and heavy defeats in his five El Clasico appearances. He lost his first two after joining Barça in 2007/08, as Real won 1-0 and 4-1 in LaLiga. But Touré proved a lucky charm thereafter, Barça won all three of his next games: 2-0 and 6-2 in 2008/09, and 1-0 in the following season.

SAMUEL ETO’O (CAMEROON)

Club: Barcelona

El Clasicos: 8

Real Madrid were the team Eto’o faced most often in his career, alongside Espanyol, 20 times in total, though only eight of those were for Barça. All came in LaLiga, with four wins, two defeats and two draws.

He netted four goals and provided two assists in that period. Eto’o started all eight matches between 2004 and 2009, underlining his influence at the club. He was, of course, once a Real Madrid player himself but never featured against Barça for them.

SEYDOU KEITA (MALI)

Club: Barcelona

El Clasicos: 10

No African player has featured in more El Clasicos than Keita, who was a mainstay of the Barça midfield from 2008 to 2013. He had an exceptional record against Real, winning seven and drawing two of his 10 clashes. His only defeat came in the 2010/11 Copa del Rey final. He didn’t record a goal or assist, but that wasn’t his role, he excelled at keeping Real’s creative threats quiet, and did so superbly.

LaLiga's plan to hold a Barcelona match in Miami in December has been called off because of "uncertainty" about the game within Spain, the Spanish top flight said in a statement on Tuesday.

Champions Barca were set to face Villarreal in the United States on December 20, which would have been the first European league fixture to be played abroad.

LaLiga said their promoter for the match decided to cancel the organisation of the event because of "uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks".

The Spanish top flight said they "deeply regret that the project, which represented a historic and unparallelled opportunity to take Spanish football to the international stage, cannot go ahead".

Tickets for the game at the Hard Rock Stadium were due to become available on Tuesday but organisers said the presale was "delayed" before the plan was scrapped.

The match will now be held at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica home as normal.

"Barcelona respect and accept the decision to cancel the match against Villarreal in Miami... just as we respected and accepted the decision to play when it was made at the time," said Barca in a statement.

The Catalan giants said they regret "the lost opportunity to expand the image of the competition in a strategic market with growth potential" and that US-based fans "will be deprived of witnessing" the game in the flesh.

LaLiga published their statement during Villarreal's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Manchester City.

"It seems to me an absolute lack of respect to put out a statement at halftime of a game about something that was planned but will not happen," said Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral.

"It's a lack of respect to the directors of the club, the club itself, the professionals and the fans.

"Tomorrow the club will make a statement about what they think, those are my thoughts."

The plan to hold the match in the United States was criticised by various parties.

The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) organised protests against it last weekend, with players from every team not moving for 15 seconds at the start of each league match.

Spanish giants Real Madrid also railed against it institutionally, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Tuesday it would adulterate the competition.

Madrid captain Dani Carvajal told LaLiga president Javier Tebas the game being held abroad would be "a stain" on the competition.

LaLiga have been trying to hold a match abroad for several years, with this the closest they have got after European football governing body UEFA granted them permission.

UEFA said they opposed the idea of games being played overseas but would allow it on an exceptional basis, along with a Serie A match set to take place in Australia in February between AC Milan and Como.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said on Tuesday the plan to take Barcelona's LaLiga match against Villarreal to Miami is "adulterating" the competition.

LaLiga announced they were moving the game to the United States in December, which will be the first European League fixture to be held abroad.

"It's totally adulterating the competition," Courtois told a news conference.

"It's easy to talk about the NFL and the NBA (which move locations), they have 82 games and it doesn't change anything for them, and in the NFL it's voted for by the owners of the teams...

"Here it's the opposite... they decided to do it and it adulterates the competition."

Courtois said Barcelona would gain an advantage by facing Villarreal at a neutral stadium, rather than in a normal away game.

"Villarreal away is a difficult game... everyone should play at home and away, apart from for force majeure."

The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) organised protests against the game being moved last weekend, with players from every team not moving for 15 seconds at the start of each league match.

However the protests at the start of each match were not all shown on television broadcasts.

"Hiding it... is censorship and manipulation, and that's not good at all," added Courtois.

Madrid have expressed their disapproval of the match being moved and Spanish media have reported that the club have filed a complaint to the Spanish government.

Coach Xabi Alonso reiterated he is also against the Miami switch.

"My opinion is clear… the club is defending their interests and we will see what happens," said the coach.

Belgian stopper Courtois is set to make his 300th appearance for the club on Wednesday when Real Madrid host Juventus in the Champions League.

"I'm very proud of reaching that number, when you're a kid you dream of playing a game for Real Madrid and tomorrow it will be 300,” said the 33-year-old."

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted on Monday that he did not want his grandchildren to see him behaving as he did when he was sent off after making an obscene gesture as he celebrated a late winner against Girona.

Flick had received a first yellow card on Saturday for protesting against a refereeing decision.

He collected a second for 'an obscene' celebration after Ronald Araujo scored in added time to give Barcelona a 2-1 win.

IN A MOMENT OF ABSOLUTE EUPHORIA, HANSI FLICK HITS THE 'TAKE IT UP THE *SS' GESTURE TO CELEBRATE ARAUJO'S WINNER!https://t.co/9vznJjG6cK

— Viralitity (@Viralitity) October 18, 2025

The red card means Flick will be banned from the bench when second-placed Barcelona visit LaLiga leaders Real Madrid in Sunday's Clasico.

Flick said that his behaviour had changed since arriving in Barcelona, illustrating his point by reviving memories of one of Barcelona's greatest humiliations when they lost 8-2 to the German's Bayern Munich side in 2020.

"Maybe my emotions aren't the same as before. I remember when I was coach of Bayern Munich, the footage of the match against Barca showed that I had the same reaction to the first, second, and eighth goals. People said I never smiled!" Flick told a press conference ahead of Barcelona's Champions League match with Olympiacos on Tuesday.

"Right now, I'm showing more emotion, it's true, because this club has completely changed me," he said.

"I really love this club, I give the best of myself. And I don't like seeing myself in this state on television either, and I don't want my grandchildren to see their grandfather like that. So I probably have to change my behaviour."

❝ I really love Barça. I love Barcelona and the people here. I always try to give my best for this club.❞

❤ Hansi Flick pic.twitter.com/RSvY62YRQ9

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 20, 2025

Some Barcelona officials criticised Saturday's referee, Flick was more conciliatory.

The referee "decided to see it differently, and that's something I have to accept," he said.

Flick also refused to be drawn into responding to a question about whether officials favour Real Madrid.

"What do I say? I've been here for 16 months; you (journalists) have been here much longer and know more. I don't want to say anything about it," he said.

In addition to long-term absentees Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Joan Garcia, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Flick said that forwards Raphinha and Ferran Torres were not fully fit and would miss the Champions League game in the hope that they could play in El Clasico.

Kylian Mbappe extended his goalscoring streak to 11 consecutive games to help Real Madrid reclaim top spot in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at nine-man Getafe on Sunday.

After rivals Barcelona briefly displaced Los Blancos with a narrow win over Girona on Saturday, Xabi Alonso's side restored their two-point advantage before next weekend's Clasico.

Getafe fended off Madrid until Allan Nyom was dismissed a minute after coming on and Mbappe quickly pounced to decide the game in the 80th minute. Alex Sancris was also sent off as Getafe unravelled in the final stages.

T⚪️P of the table! pic.twitter.com/Bp6zu3GoGh

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 19, 2025

Alonso started with Brazilian star Vinicius Junior on the bench, with the Champions League clash against Juventus on Wednesday and Barca's impending visit in mind.

The winger turned out to be key as a second-half substitute, with both of Getafe's red cards issued for fouls on him.

"Vini had a great impact... we told him this morning he could be so important," Alonso told reporters.

"It was a very demanding game, coming here to face Getafe is never easy... it wasn't the prettiest game but we did what we had to do."

Mbappe returned after an ankle problem kept him out of a France World Cup qualifier earlier in the week, leading the line at Getafe's Coliseum stadium.

The French forward had scored in his previous 10 consecutive appearances for club and country and found the net once again.

𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮. pic.twitter.com/LRL3caliBf

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 19, 2025

"We are very happy with how Kylian is going, he's being decisive," said Alonso.

Mbappe twice came close before Getafe earned a foothold in the game and began to frustrate the visitors, stopping them from creating much danger.

Only towards the end of the first period did Madrid perk up again in attack, with Soria saving from Rodrygo Goes after good work by Jude Bellingham.

Getafe's goalkeeper made a good stop from a powerful David Alaba free-kick and Fede Valverde flashed a strike across the face of goal before half-time.

Alonso sent on Vinicius in the second half and his spark began to worry the hosts, who resorted to fouls to fend off the Brazilian.

Bellingham fed Mbappe who fired off target, and then whipped a free-kick inches wide, as Madrid remained comfortably on top.

GETAFE SEE RED

The game changed when Getafe substitute Nyom, under a minute after coming on, needlessly knocked down Vinicius off the ball with his arm and was sent off.

Moments after play restarted, Real Madrid took the lead.

Arda Guler fed Mbappe, who was just onside, and he turned nicely before firing past Soria and in off the post for his 10th league goal of the season, leading the charts both in La Liga and in the Champions League.

🔓💪 Deadlock BROKEN pic.twitter.com/J3pB7zTj2r

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 19, 2025

Getafe continued to self-destruct and Sancris was sent off for a second yellow card, gained for another unneccessary foul on Vinicius, leaving Jose Bordalas's side with nine men.

Alvaro Carreras fired wide after a cheeky scoop over the defence by Vinicius, whom Getafe fans booed.

Despite their significant numerical disadvantage, the hosts had one golden chance to level in stoppage time, but Thibaut Courtois saved from Englishman Abu Kamara with his knee.

"We should not give away this chance, but Thibaut did his job," said Alonso.

Getafe coach Bordalas said he did not believe Nyom deserved to be dismissed before Madrid's opener.

"Nyom's red card changed the game," said the Getafe coach. "For me it's not a red card, yellow at most."

Elsewhere, newly-promoted Elche continued their good start to the season with a 0-0 draw against Athletic Bilbao which left them seventh, one place above their Basque opponents.

Rayo Vallecano climbed into 10th with a 3-0 win at Levante, while struggling Real Sociedad snatched a late 1-1 draw at 10-man Celta Vigo.

Barcelona moved top of La Liga on Saturday after Ronald Araujo struck deep in stoppage time to snatch the champions a 2-1 win over Girona.

The defender, sent on as an emergency forward, netted in the 93rd minute to give Barca a one-point lead over Real Madrid, who visit Getafe on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Thiago Almada earned Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win over Osasuna to take them fourth, while Antony's double helped Real Betis secure a comeback draw at third-place Villarreal.

Following two consecutive defeats, Hansi Flick's Barca were only just able to edge Girona, 19th, thanks to Araujo's late goal.

Pedri Gonzalez slotted Barcelona ahead early on but Axel Witsel equalised with a superb overhead kick for a Girona side who came close to securing a deserved point.

"We didn't play our best match but we fought to the end and we scored that goal -- it will give us confidence for the next matches, at least this is what I hope," said Barca coach Flick.

Flick brought Lamine Yamal back into the starting line-up after he recovered from the groin injury that kept him out of Spain's recent World Cup qualifiers.

The teenage winger also missed the 4-1 thrashing by Sevilla in Barcelona's last La Liga outing.

With several players, including striker Robert Lewandowski, out injured, Flick handed a league debut to 17-year-old forward Toni Fernandez.

In line with the protest organised by the Spanish footballers' association against Barca's match against Villarreal in December which has been moved to Miami, both sets of players stood still for 15 seconds after the whistle blew for kick-off.

Barca took the initiative and earned a 13th-minute lead after Jules Kounde and Yamal combined well, allowing midfielder Pedri to casually pass the ball into the bottom right corner.

Girona, who finished in the top four two seasons ago but have struggled ever since, soon found a way back level.

Witsel produced a stunning overhead kick to equalise in the 20th minute.

The visitors exploited Barcelona's high line several times, with Cristian Portu striking the post after getting in behind Barca's defence, while Girona also spurned two more one-on-ones.

Marcus Rashford struck the crossbar with a free-kick at the other end as a warning to the minnows.

'WE NEEDED THIS'

Paulo Gazzaniga made an excellent save at his near post to thwart Rashford, who also had a penalty appeal waved away.

Flick sent on centre-back Araujo as a striker in the final stages in desperation and the Uruguayan delivered deep in stoppage time, finishing off Frenkie de Jong's cross to snatch three points.

Araujo ripped off his shirt in celebration as Barca claimed a victory which seemed improbable after a flat second-half display.

"At the moment we're leading the table so it's a good situation, Real Madrid have to win tomorrow," said Flick.

"We are missing the dynamic we normally have... we needed this goal and this victory today."

Flick was sent off in the final stages for dissent and is set for a touchline ban at the Santiago Bernabeu next weekend, and perhaps beyond after he made a gesture viewed as uncouth in Spain as he celebrated Araujo's goal.

Atletico continued a run of six matches unbeaten with a hard-fought victory over Osasuna to edge ahead of Betis on goal difference.

Summer arrival Almada netted his first goal for the club after 69 minutes to break Osasuna's resistence and decide the game.

"I'm very happy for my first goal but the most important thing is that the team won," Almada told DAZN.

Atletico started the season poorly but are slowly finding their rhythm.

Rojiblancos stopper Jan Oblak made a fine save late on to deny Ante Budimir and secure his team their three points.

"We need to concentrate, games have escaped us because of small details and we're correcting that as we go," said Atletico midfielder Marcos Llorente.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso on Saturday backed LaLiga players protesting against the Spanish top flight's decision to take a match to Miami.

LaLiga announced last week Barcelona's away game at Villarreal will take place in the United States on 20 December, in the first European league fixture to be held abroad.

The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) said on Friday there would be a "symbolic protest" at the start of every LaLiga match this week.

Players from both Oviedo and Espanyol refused to move for the first 15 seconds of their game on Friday, although broadcasts of the game did not show this.

"We are against the match, we believe it distorts the competition," Madrid coach Alonso told a news conference.

"There hasn't been unanimity or consultation for it to be played on neutral ground. The protests are positive, and that sentiment is positive.

"We believe it could happen if there were unanimity, but that's not the case."

LaLiga leaders Real Madrid face Getafe on Sunday and Alonso said striker Kylian Mbappe should be ready to play.

The French superstar has endured ankle discomfort over the past fortnight and missed France's World Cup qualifier against Iceland on Monday.

"Everyone who went with their national teams, except Dean (Huijsen), has returned in good condition," said Alonso.

Barcelona have extended their sponsorship agreement with Spotify until 2030, the club announced on Thursday, with the audio streaming giant continuing to feature on the men's and women's first-team jerseys as well as training kits.

The deal extends a collaboration that began three years ago and ensures Spotify retains naming rights for the Camp Nou until 2034, as the iconic stadium undergoes extensive renovation.

"Both Barça and Spotify are global brands with hundreds of millions of fans worldwide," Barcelona said in a statement.

"This partnership enables both brands to expand their presence in strategic markets and create shared synergies with an international reach, connecting with new audiences and consolidating their global outlook.

"With the reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou on the horizon and an excellent generation of young talent, FC Barcelona and Spotify look towards the future together to shape a new and promising era for the club and its global community."

Injury-hit Barcelona expect to have Lamine Yamal back fit to face Girona in LaLiga on Saturday, in a welcome boost as the Catalans aim to bounce back from a damaging defeat with the Clasico in their sights.

Hansi Flick's side were hammered 4-1 by Sevilla before the international break and must regroup before facing Real Madrid on October 26.

Midfielder Pedri Gonzalez said Barca's performance in Seville was the team's worst under Flick, and since then Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo have suffered injuries to deepen their plight.

However Yamal and Fermin Lopez returned to training this week and are expected to be fit to face Girona, while Raphinha is also nearing a return.

Teenage star Yamal missed the thrashing by Sevilla and then Spain's World Cup qualifiers with the recurrence of a groin problem but should feature against Girona in a derby clash.

Yamal's expected return is a welcome boost for Barca ahead of a busy period, with a Champions League match against Olympiacos following on Tuesday ahead of the Clasico.

Joan Garcia, Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are longer-term absentees and Flick's options remain thin, without much room for rotation.

The coach was careful not to further reduce the morale of his players after their collapse at Sevilla.

"It's one match and we lost it, and we have to keep going on," said the coach, praising his team's second half display after an especially poor first period.

It was Barcelona's first defeat of the season, leaving them two points behind leaders Real Madrid, but not their first bad performance.

Barca drew 1-1 at Rayo Vallecano in August after which Flick blasted the team and suggested they had got too big for their boots after winning a domestic treble last season.

"Ego kills success," warned the German coach, hoping to refocus his players' minds.

It seemed to work as even without teenage star Yamal they secured several wins but then after he got hurt again against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, came their heavy defeat at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

Barca started last season superbly but then collapsed in November and December, allowing Atletico Madrid to overtake them at the top of the table.

Flick will be keen for his team to avoid a similar backslide this season and hosting Girona, 18th, in a derby is a good opportunity for his team to get back to winning ways.

The game will take place at the Olympic stadium on the city's Montjuic hill, with Barca's rebuilt Camp Nou home not yet ready to open amid a series of delays.

"I'm really looking forward to going back to Camp Nou, with all our fans," said midfielder Frenkie de Jong, after renewing his contract until 2029 on Wednesday.

"I don't know the date, but we can't wait."

Real Madrid face Getafe on Sunday, hoping in-form striker Kylian Mbappe has recovered from an ankle problem.

Villarreal, third, host Real Betis while Atletico Madrid welcome Osasuna.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Luis Milla

Getafe midfielder Milla has been his team's key weapon this season, providing five assists – no player in the top flight has more. The Madrid minnows host rivals Los Blancos in a derby clash and if they are to take anything from the game Milla will likely have to play an important role.

KEY STATS

4 - Liga matches Barca have conceded first in

7 - matches unbeaten for Atletico Madrid

28 - yellow cards for Sevilla, the most in the top flight

FIXTURES

Friday (all times GMT)

Oviedo v Espanyol (1900)

Saturday

Sevilla v Mallorca (1200), Barcelona v Girona (1415), Villarreal v Real Betis (1630), Atletico Madrid v Osasuna (1900)

Sunday

Elche v Athletic Bilbao (1200), Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad (1415), Levante v Rayo Vallecano (1630), Getafe v Real Madrid (1900)

Monday

Alaves v Valencia (1900)

LaLiga's decision to stage a match in Miami later this year is good for football and a reward for the international supporters who pay to watch the league from afar, the Spanish soccer federation's (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan said.

European governing body Uefa has approved a LaLiga match and a Serie A game to be played abroad, with a fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal taking place in Miami, while AC Milan's meeting with Como will be held in Perth, Australia.

The LaLiga match, scheduled for December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium, will mark the first time that an official European league match will be played abroad.

"It is a reward for those fans who are behind the screen, in Asia or America, who are paying a fee to watch all the LaLiga matches," Louzan said at the World Football Summit in Madrid on Wednesday.

"It is a gesture for them. It is good for football and promotes the Spanish league around the world. Italy is also going to do it with Serie A in Australia."

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong signed a new deal until 2029, the Spanish champions announced on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Dutch international joined Barcelona from Ajax in 2019 and is in his seventh season with the Catalan giants, winning two LaLiga titles and the Copa del Rey twice.

"Barca are confident that the midfielder can be a pivotal part of the current sporting project due to his quality and experience," said the club in a statement.

Deal 🤝 pic.twitter.com/3qTb5p1LD5

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 15, 2025

De Jong has struggled for form at times but became a key part of the midfield under Hansi Flick last season alongside Pedri Gonzalez.

"I always dreamed of playing for Barca, and now that I am living the dream I have always had since I was a child, I want to continue pursuing this dream for many more years, and I am eager to win titles," De Jong told a news conference.

Arriving under previous Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu, De Jong is one of the club's highest earners, with Spanish media reporting he has accepted a pay cut in his new deal starting from the 2026/27 season.

One of us. 💙❤ pic.twitter.com/Y4Zz82wKUa

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 15, 2025

De Jong said previous media reports over his salary were exaggerated and had affected how he was viewed by fans.

"I will not tell you what I will earn, they've always talked about it a lot but I think that numbers regarding what I earned before have been exaggerated a lot," he explained.

"I think that has affected a bit how people see me, because if they read in newspapers that Frenkie earns this, that he's the player who earns the most money in Europe... it has an impact."

Barcelona tried to sell De Jong in 2022 as part of cost-cutting measures but the midfielder dug in to stay at the club for whom he has made over 250 appearances.

"I don't feel under-valued by my teammates, coaches or within the club, that's more (a media) thing," added De Jong.

"That's the beauty of football, everyone can have their opinion."

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is set to miss the Clasico after the Spanish champions diagnosed him with a hamstring injury on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old forward suffered the injury during a World Cup qualifier for Poland against Lithuania on Sunday.

Lewandowski "has a muscle tear in the biceps femoris of his left thigh," said Barcelona in a statement, with Spanish media reporting he could be sidelined for between four to six weeks.

Barcelona face LaLiga leaders Real Madrid in a Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on 26 October, while the forward is also set to miss Champions League matches against Olympiakos and Club Brugge, among other games.

Goalkeeper Joan Garcia and playmaker Dani Olmo are also poised to miss out on the Clasico for Barca, but teenage winger Lamine Yamal returned to training on Monday after a groin problem.

Barca striker Ferran Torres was sent home from the Spain national team camp because of muscular discomfort, but the club confirmed Monday he has not suffered an injury.

Torres has led the line for Barca on various occasions this season already, with Lewandowski often featuring as a substitute.

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo is a doubt for the upcoming LaLiga Clasico match against Real Madrid after being diagnosed with a calf injury on Monday.

"Olmo has a muscle injury in his left calf, without connective tissue involvement," said Barcelona in a statement, not specifying his expected recovery time.

Spanish media reported Olmo could miss around a fortnight, making him a doubt to face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on 26 October.

Olmo was sent home from the Spanish national team camp last week because of the injury.

Barca forward Ferran Torres also left the Spain camp on Monday because of muscular discomfort.

Torres was "diagnosed with muscle overload without any structural injury" said Spain, and he will miss their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria on Tuesday.

Barcelona's teenage defender Pau Cubarsi, an emerging talent for club and country, has shed light on his grounded lifestyle off the pitch, painting a picture far removed from the typical image of a footballer's glamorous life.

In an interview with Spanish sports daily AS, the 18-year-old said that he has a modest home life in Barcelona with his older sister Irene, where they share household chores such as cooking and washing dishes.

The Spain international, who has already drawn attention for his maturity on the pitch being a key player in Barcelona's LaLiga and Copa del Rey double campaign last season, highlighted the importance of his family in keeping him in check.

"I'm just a regular guy," Cubarsi said on Thursday as he prepares with his Spain teammates for their World Cup qualifier against Georgia on Saturday. "I've got my feet on the ground. My family keeps me grounded, especially my parents and my sister."

 

Cubarsi, who is studying a Business Administration and Management course, said that he dedicates three afternoons a week to his coursework, ensuring he is prepared for life beyond football.

"Football doesn't leave much time, but I want to prepare myself. This course is more relaxed than university, which requires more time. That way, I can recover and study," he said.

Having grown up in La Masia, Barcelona's famed academy, Cubarsi moved in with his sister after graduating to the first team. Their parents frequently visit from their village of Estanyol in Girona.

"I'm learning to cook a few things, and if there are any dishes to wash, I wash them," he said.

Despite his grounded nature, Cubarsi is ambitious on the pitch, with a potential first World Cup appearance next year.

"I'm really looking forward to it, and I'm also excited about winning it. A World Cup is spectacular, and just being able to compete would be magnificent," he said.

Barcelona will face Villarreal in Miami in a LaLiga match on December 20, the Spanish top flight said on Wednesday, making it the first European league fixture to be played abroad.

Earlier this week, European football governing body Uefa said they opposed the idea of games being played overseas but would permit it on an exceptional basis, along with a Serie A match in Australia in February between AC Milan and Como.

"With this match, we take a historic step that projects LaLiga and Spanish football into a new dimension," said LaLiga president Javier Tebas in a statement.

"We understand and respect the concerns that this decision may generate, but it is important to put it into context – it is a single match out of the 380 that make up the season."

The game was due to be played at Villarreal's home stadium, but will now take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in the United States, in Florida.

🚨 OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

LALIGA confirms the official match in Miami between @VillarrealCF and @FCBarcelona.

📅 December 20, 2025 at the Hard Rock Stadium.

— LALIGA Corporativo (@LaLigaCorp) October 8, 2025

Villarreal will take measures to compensate season ticket holders after the game was moved.

"Villarreal season ticket holders will be able to travel for free to the match, and those who choose not to travel to Miami will enjoy a 30 per cent discount on their season ticket price as part of the measures designed to reward their support and loyalty," said LaLiga.

In September, a total of 18 fan groups from both teams involved expressed their "complete opposition" to the match taking place abroad.

LaLiga have attempted to play matches overseas dating back to 2017, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) frequently resisted, despite hosting the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia themselves.

Barcelona's rivals, Real Madrid, have also expressed their disapproval at the decision to take a LaLiga game abroad.

They said in August that hosting the game in Miami would "alter the competitive balance" of the league and set an "unacceptable precedent".

Spanish champions Barcelona said on Tuesday that they now plan to return to their renovated Camp Nou home only once they get permission to have a temporary capacity of 45,000 supporters.

The decision comes less than a week after Barca once again delayed their expected return to their iconic home stadium -- which was initially slated for November 2024 before being pushed back several times.

Previously, the Catalan giants were hoping to reopen their stadium once they obtained a licence to host matches in front of 27,000 fans -- something that they had hoped to secure last month.

The decision to wait until the temporary capacity is increased to 45,000 is almost certain to cause further delays to the re-opening of one of Europe's great stadiums after a re-development that has suffered several setbacks.

The club are estimated to be paying 1.5 billion euros ($1.75 billion) for the Camp Nou rebuild, which has been beset by reconstruction chaos.

"Although it is expected to soon receive the first occupancy licence for phase 1A... Barcelona will work with the goal of returning to Spotify Camp Nou once the licence for phase 1B is obtained, which will expand the capacity to 45,000 spectators," the club said in a statement without giving any indication of when that would be.

Barcelona were humiliatingly forced to play two matches at their 6,000 capacity Johan Cruyff training ground stadium in the first weeks of the season after failing to get the permit they needed for Camp Nou.

The city council said in September that they would not allow Barcelona to return to the stadium, which will have a capacity of 105,000 when it is completed, because of safety issues.

Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday that they will host their next La Liga game against Girona on October 18 at the Olympic stadium on the city's Montjuic hill.

The club played there for the last two seasons while Camp Nou was closed and had to return there at the end of September following their two games at the tiny Johan Cruyff venue.

Barca had already announced their next Champions League match against Olympiakos will also take place there on October 21. Their next home games after that are against Elche on November 2 and Athletic Bilbao on November 23.

 

Spanish champions Barcelona collapsed in a shock 4-1 demolition at Sevilla on Sunday in LaLiga, with Alexis Sanchez scoring against his former side and Robert Lewandowski missing a penalty for the visitors.

The Catalans sit second in the table after their first league defeat of the campaign, two points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid following Los Blancos' victory over Villarreal on Saturday, while Sevilla rise to sixth.

Real Betis moved fourth with a 2-1 win at Espanyol, thanks to a stoppage-time penalty save by their goalkeeper Pau Lopez, who formerly played for the Catalans.

Atletico Madrid stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo after having Clement Lenglet sent off in the first half and sit fifth.

Veteran Chilean winger Sanchez put Sevilla ahead from the penalty spot early on against Barca and Isaac Romero doubled the hosts' lead after having already missed two good chances.

Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back before halftime, but Lewandowski fired wide from the spot to spurn his team's best chance of an equaliser.

Jose Carmona and Akor Adams wrapped up Sevilla's emphatic win in the final stages, as Hansi Flick's side fell to an unusually heavy defeat.

"The team's first 45 minutes were horrendous. I think we've not played a game as bad as that and we must be self-critical," Barca midfielder Pedri Gonzalez told the club's media channel.

Flick defended his team despite their loss, saying that he was pleased with their reaction in the second half.

"It's one match and we lost it, and we have to keep going," he said.

Barcelona were still licking their wounds after Paris Saint-Germain beat them late on in the Champions League on Wednesday, and were without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal.

"In the first half we didn't know how to defend well or attack well," Pedri told Movistar, of his team's sluggish display.

The rout began when Ronald Araujo clumsily grappled with Romero in the box and conceded a penalty.

Sanchez dispatched it, with the 36-year-old sending Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way to fire Matias Almeyda's side ahead.

SEVILLA RAMPANT

Romero swept into the bottom corner from Ruben Vargas's cutback for the second as Barca were opened up easily again.

Rashford was the first Barcelona player to awake from their slumber and pulled the champions back into the game deep in first-half stoppage time, volleying home Pedri's cross for his first LaLiga goal.

Having won just one league game at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in 2025 before Barcelona's visit, the hosts' nerves began to shake.

Sevilla substitute Adnan Januzaj conceded a penalty for felling Balde as he flew into the box, granting Barca a golden chance to level.

Veteran Polish striker Lewandowski stuttered twice in his run-up before firing wide of the post.

Youngster Roony Bardghji could have equalised but fired straight at the goalkeeper after Lewandowski's flick-on sent him in on goal.

Sevilla wrapped up their win late on through full-back Carmona, who drilled a low effort past Szczesny and into the far corner, and Adams.

"I'm very happy for the victory, we needed to win at home," said Sevilla coach Almeyda.

"We couldn't give them a metre of space... we knew what we had to do and we're on a good path."

ATLETICO DROP POINTS

Atletico's draw at Celta left them eight points behind leaders Real Madrid and six behind Barca.

A Carl Starfelt own-goal put Atletico ahead before Lenglet was sent off in the 40th minute for two yellow cards.

Iago Aspas, who equalled the record for most Celta appearances, bundled home an equaliser in the second half, with the hosts on top but unable to find a winner.

It was Celta's sixth 1-1 draw of the season in eight league games, with the Galician side yet to win.

Atletico had won their prior three across all competitions, including a 5-2 thrashing of Real Madrid last weekend.

"I'm very happy with the work of my players," said an annoyed Simeone repeatedly, in answer to various questions about the game.

The coach had shown his anger on the touchline at the decision to send off Lenglet for two fouls on Ferran Jutgla.

Promoted side Elche fell to their first defeat of the season, a 3-1 loss at Alaves that left them seventh.