Carlo Ancelotti’s side head into the seismic fixture eight points clear of a resurgent Barcelona at the summit. Madrid have continued to plug away at the top of the table, and Ancelotti will want to wrap the division up before their upcoming Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
Los Blancos progressed beyond Manchester City in the last eight on Wednesday following a 120-minute slog at the Etihad which went to penalties.
Just how much that bout took out of them will be revealed on Sunday, with Ancelotti unlikely to make many changes to his starting XI. Here’s the Madrid side that could start El Clasico this weekend.
GK: Andriy Lunin – Lunin started the City tie as the villain, but he achieved hero status during its final act. Madrid’s penalty shootout star has deputised superbly for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
RB: Dani Carvajal – Ancelotti’s Iron Man was certainly feeling it in the wake of Wednesday’s triumph as he missed training in the aftermath. However, Carvajal is expected to be fit for Sunday’s Clasico.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – The German emerged as a protagonist at the Etihad, shutting Erling Haaland down yet again before scoring the winning spot-kick. Robert Lewandowski’s next.
CB: Eder Militao – Militao has enjoyed mere cameos since returning from an ACL tear, but the time might’ve arrived for him to make his first start since August.
LB: Ferland Mendy – Madrid’s starting left-back has enjoyed a stellar campaign. His next task is slowing down Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
DM: Aurelien Tchouameni – Suspended on Wednesday night, Tchouameni surely has to come into the side on Sunday to freshen up a flagging engine room.
CM: Toni Kroos – Madrid’s key controller struggled to work his subtle magic against a dominant City in midweek, but he could have more joy against a Barcelona side that doesn’t mind ceding control.
CM: Federico Valverde – Valverde simply doesn’t do fatigue. The Uruguayan has starred in this fixture in the past, and he’ll be looking to dominate in the middle of the park at the Bernabeu.
AM: Jude Bellingham – Madrid’s superstar hasn’t set the world alight in terms of final third output in recent weeks, but Bellingham depicted his brilliance in the build-up to Rodrygo’s crucial goal at the Etihad.
ST: Rodrygo – The silent assassin haunted City again in midweek and he’ll be keen to have a major impact in the traditional Clasico this weekend.
ST: Vinicius Junior – There are a few doubts over his status for Sunday’s game off the back of Madrid’s continental tussle, but nobody’s particularly concerned. It’d be a major surprise if Vinicius didn’t face up against Barca.
