Real Madrid players @ Getty Images

Real Madrid are set to host FC Barcelona on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium for the first Clasico of La Liga 2024-25.

The visitors have started this season and currently sit top of the table having won nine of their first 10 league matches. Under new coach Hansi Flick, a rejuvenated FC Barcelona reeled off a seven-game winning streak to start the campaign, including a 7-0 defeat of Real Valladolid, a 4-1 away win over Girona FC and a score 5-1 against Real Valladolid. Villarreal CF on the move.

Although CA Osasuna briefly halted the Blaugranas’ momentum with a 4-2 victory at El Sadar on matchday eight, Flick’s side bounced back to beat Deportivo Alavés 3-0 away and beating Sevilla FC with a 5-1 victory. at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc on Sunday.

FC Barcelona are also in the Clasico after a 4-1 home victory, thanks to a hat-trick from an in-form Raphinha, against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.

#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/FQxlnpuvtV

— Real Madrid CF (@realmadriden) October 26, 2024

Meanwhile, Real Madrid head into Saturday’s clash after a brilliant 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in Europe’s premier football competition on Tuesday.

The German side took a two-goal lead before the break, but Los Blancos turned things around in the second half, with Vinícius scoring a hat-trick to lead his side to a comeback win over Real Madrid at the Bernabéu.

#ElClásico
INTERNAL TRAINING #RMPlay
https://t.co/WUICDuLYcv#RMCity

— Real Madrid CF (@realmadriden) October 25, 2024

Despite being one of two undefeated teams in La Liga, along with neighbors Atlético Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are currently three points behind leaders FC Barcelona.

The reigning La Liga champions have won seven of their 10 league matches so far, while the other three matches – all played away – ended in 1-1 draws against RCD Mallorca, l UD Las Palmas and Atlético de Madrid.

This weekend, Real Madrid will remain undefeated at home for 568 days, having suffered their last defeat in front of their home crowd on April 8, 2023, a 3-2 loss against Villarreal CF.

Additionally, if Los Blancos avoid defeat in the highly anticipated El Clasico, they will equal FC Barcelona’s longest unbeaten streak of 43 league matches between 2017 and 2018, which is the longest unbeaten streak in the league. history of La Liga.

AN ENTERTAINING MATCH-UP WITH WORLD-CLASS SCORERS

It may be early in the season, but El Clasico still delivers in terms of passion and highly entertaining football. No less than 29 goals have been scored in the last eight league derbies, which corresponds to an average of 3.6 goals per match.

FC Barcelona currently have the best attack in La Liga with 33 goals scored in 10 matches, while Real Madrid have scored the second highest tally of 14 goals in five home games this season.

In fact, Saturday’s game will feature four of the league’s top five scorers, all of whom are expected to compete for the Pichichi Trophy this season. The extraordinary Robert Lewandowski leads the scorers with 12 goals, an average of 1.20 goals per match. He is followed by Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, who has scored six goals in his first nine league matches.

In-form Raphinha registered 10 goals (five goals and five assists), while Ballon d’Or favorite Vinícius had five goals and four assists, with Kopa Trophy candidate Lamine Yamal pairing his four goals with one goal in the championship. six assists.

All these players should be at the head of two teams of stars who will take to the Bernabéu field full of desire and determined to win the first Clasico of the season.