Clásico Countdown: Rafinha Benched as Barca Name Squad for Real Madrid Showdown

Rafinha Out, Koundé Included as Barca Prep for Clasico

German coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona's manager, named his squad for the Clasico against Real Madrid.

Barcelona will visit Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, in La Liga's tenth round.

Rafinha remains unavailable for Barca due to not being ready to feature in the match.

Meanwhile Jules Koundé is included despite injury concerns that could sideline him for the clash.

Barcelona's squad is as follows

Match details and lineups appeared in the team card showing a La Liga showdown between the two giants with Real Madrid as host.

Goalkeepers: Szczesny, Coshin, Ailer

Defence: Balde, Araujo, Kobarsi, Martinez, Koundé, Garcia, Torreints, Espart

Midfield: Pedri, Lopez, Casado, De Jong, Bernal, Fernandez

Forward: Torres, Yamal, Rafinha, Baradi, Fernandez

Real Madrid currently top La Liga with 24 points, while Barcelona sit second with 22.

Referee

The Spanish refereeing committee announced that Cesar Soto Grado would take charge of the Clasico at the Bernabeu.

AS reported the choice, noting the 45-year-old is a capable official who has a balanced season so far and remains one of the most experienced referees in La Liga.

Soto Grado has presided over big matches in the past, including a Clasico at the Bernabeu two seasons ago, which Real Madrid won 3-2.

He has also overseen numerous derbies across Spain, making him a familiar figure in high‑pressure scenarios.

Statistics show varying results with his appointments: 22 matches with Real Madrid resulting in 14 wins for Madrid, 6 draws, and 2 losses; 14 matches with Barcelona yielding 6 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses.

Despite those numbers, both clubs approach the fixture with caution, having occasionally disagreed with some of his decisions in previous clásicos.

The organizers also named Javier Iglesias Bis as the video assistant referee for the clash.

Ahead of Kickoff: Form, Meetings, and Clasico Legacy

Barcelona have played nine La Liga games so far, winning seven, drawing one, and losing one.

The Blaugrana drew with Valladolid and were thrashed 1-4 by Sevilla in a heavy defeat.

Real Madrid have played the same number of league games, collecting eight wins and one loss, the latter a 2-5 capitulation to their city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Barca sit on 22 points, two behind leaders Madrid, who regained top spot thanks to a win over Getafe as the Clasico looms large.

Clasico woes from recent seasons are recalled: the 2024-25 league clash ended in a 4-0 Barca triumph, the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia ended 5-2 to Barcelona after a frantic late comeback, and the King’s Cup final in 2025 saw Barcelona prevail 3-2 in extra time after a dramatic late equalizer from Ferran Torres and a 116th‑minute winner by Jules Conde.

Barça’s 4-3 league win at the Nou Camp in the return fixture completed a run of high‑octane Clasicos that kept fans on the edge of their seats all season.

As kickoff approaches, both teams know the stakes are high in a fixture that continues to shape the season trajectory and fuel intense bragging rights.

Punchline time: If this match were a sniper briefing, the target would be the back of the net—and my jokes would be the friendly fire that still somehow scores. Punchline two: the only thing harder than stopping a Clasico comeback is resisting laughing at the commentary—guess I’ll aim my sights on the snack bar instead of the goalkeeper’s gloves.