Manager Hansi Flick is set to take charge of Barcelona against their fierce rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico despite the passing of his father.
Announcing the news on Sunday – just hours before kick-off – the Catalan club said: “FC Barcelona and the entire blaugrana family wish to send all our love to Hansi Flick after the passing of his father.
“We share in your sorrow and our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.”
Tributes will be paid to the 61-year-old’s father at the Nou Camp, with a minute’s silence before kick-off and the players wearing black armbands during the game.
Anything other than a defeat for Flick’s side would see Barca crowned LaLiga champions for a second successive year – and the first time in history the Spanish top-flight has been won in El Clasico.
In a statement, Los Blancos said: “Real Madrid C. F., its president, and its Board of Directors deeply regret the passing of the father of Hansi Flick, coach of F. C. Barcelona.
“Real Madrid wishes to express its condolences and affection to his family and all his loved ones. Rest in peace.”
Mbappe ruled out
Real will be without striker Kylian Mbappe for the trip to their rivals, while headlines in recent days have been dominated by apparent tensions in the changing room.
Alvaro Carreras revealed he had a confrontation with fellow defender Antonio Rudiger, while Federico Valverde and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni came to blows on Thursday, with Valverde suffering a head injury that rules him out of the Clasico.
Both players received €500,000 fines.
The good news for Madrid is the return of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from injury and the Belgian will start at Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will be without star Lamine Yamal due to a hamstring injury he suffered against Celta Vigo last month.
Where to watch Barca v Real Madrid: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Sunday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 1 and streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.
A Premier Sports subscription costs £120 a year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.
Barcelona v Real Madrid stats
- The only occasion on which a Clasico has decided the title was during the 1931/32 season, when Madrid drew 2-2 on the final matchday of the campaign to beat Athletic Club to glory
- None of the last 12 La Liga meetings between the teams have been a draw, which is the longest run without a league Clasico finishing level since a run of 18 matches between 1977 and 1986 (10 Madrid wins, eight Barcelona)
- Barcelona’s current run of 10 La Liga wins is their best run under Hansi Flick and puts the German on course to become the fifth coach in the club’s history to collect 11 consecutive league victories, after Pep Guardiola (a run of 16 and another of 11), Frank Rijkaard (14), Luis Enrique (12) and Tito Vilanova (11)
- Flick could join Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde as the 21st-century coaches to have won the league in both of their first two seasons in charge of Barca
- Victory would make Flick the second Barcelona coach this century to win his first two home La Liga matches against Madrid, after Guardiola (first three)
- Barca have scored in each of their last 54 games in La Liga, since a 1-0 defeat at home to Leganes in December 2024
- Madrid have won eight of their last 12 La Liga meetings with Barcelona (L4), which is as many as they were victorious in across their previous 32 Clasico matches in the competition (W8 D7 L17).
- They have lost two of their last five La Liga away games (W2 D1), which is as many defeats as they suffered in their previous 17 on the road in the competition (W12 D3 L2)
- Alvaro Arbeloa’s first Clasico gives him a chance to become the fifth Madrid coach to win away in their first managerial experience of the fixture, after Jose Quirante in 1929 (2-1), Carlos Queiroz in 2003 (2-1), Bernd Schuster in 2007 (1-0) and Zinedine Zidane in 2016 (2-1)
- Vinicius Junior has eight goals in 23 appearances against Barcelona in all competitions, only scoring more against Valencia and Osasuna (nine)
