This Sunday’s Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou could be historic. For the first time ever, the clash between Spain’s two biggest clubs might see one crowned league champion on the spot. Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona need only a draw against their eternal rivals to clinch the La Liga title and retain the domestic crown. The match holds huge significance, though in pure classification terms it has little impact: if Álvaro Arbeloa’s Real Madrid win at Camp Nou, they would close the gap to eight points with three games remaining. Only a major collapse would prevent Barça from lifting their second consecutive league title.
Both teams could be missing their star player — their No. 10. Lamine Yamal has been ruled out since April 23, after medical scans following the win against Celta confirmed he would miss the rest of the season due to a biceps femoris injury in his left leg. Kylian Mbappé’s situation, as with almost everything surrounding the Frenchman, is shrouded in uncertainty. The forward suffered a minor muscle strain just over a week ago against Real Betis, and his trip to Sardinia during recovery has caused friction in Madrid. He is expected to undergo further tests this week to determine his availability for the Clásico. In any case, starting seems unlikely.
**Life Without Their Stars**
Lamine Yamal has been Barça’s best player this season, featuring in almost every match (3,702 minutes) with 24 goals and 18 assists. Despite his undeniable importance, Flick’s side managed to cope without him — winning four matches (against Newcastle, Valencia, Getafe, and Real Oviedo) and losing only once (to Sevilla) during an earlier pubic issue that kept him out for five games between late September and early October. After his injury against Celta, Barça have won at Getafe and Osasuna — two very tough away venues. Overall, without Lamine, the team has seven wins and one defeat in eight matches.
For Real Madrid, the question is whether Mbappé is truly their irreplaceable star. A recurring theme in the Spanish capital this season has been that Madrid have played better when either Kylian Mbappé or Vinicius Jr. started alone rather than together. The numbers support that: eight wins and three defeats in 11 matches without the Frenchman, and wins against Valencia and Talavera without the Brazilian. While the sample is smaller and opponents vary, the pattern is clear. Madrid have lost more matches without Mbappé than Barça have without Lamine, but the percentage is similar when compared to each team’s overall record.
The statistics indicate that both teams have stepped up when their ’10’ was unavailable. Sunday’s Clásico, depending on Mbappé’s fitness, will be a telling test of which side can better manage without their standout star. But as things stand, there are far more doubts at the Santiago Bernabéu.
