Alonso Debut, Flick Suspended Ahead of Clasico

Real Madrid host Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu on Oct. 26 (kick‑off 16:15 CEST); Real sit two points clear and Xabi Alonso faces Barcelona in what will be his managerial debut. Real have several key returns — Trent Alexander‑Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Dani Ceballos and Dani Carvajal — while Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba remain unavailable. Barcelona arrive hampered by a lengthy injury list including Raphinha, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Marc‑André ter Stegen and Andreas Christensen, though Ferran Torres is available. Hansi Flick is suspended so assistant Marcus Sorg will run the touchline; Sorg has named a reshaped back line featuring Eric García and Pau Cubarsí alongside Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde. Alonso’s expected XI is likely to rely on Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. up front with Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni in midfield, with selection dilemmas over the second centre‑back and the right side. Teenager Lamine Yamal’s remark that Madrid “steal and complain” has attracted attention; Alonso declined to comment and Sorg said the criticism will motivate Yamal.