By Soon, the eyes of the football world will turn to the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid and Barcelona will face off on October 26 at 4:15 p.m. CET.
Although Barcelona won all four meetings last season, they are likely to enter this encounter as underdogs, not only because Los Blancos have improved under new head coach Xabi Alonso, but also due to their own recent struggles.
Fans are already speculating about the outcome of El Clásico, but as always, predicting the winner is as unpredictable as ever, anything can happen when these two rivals meet.
For fans backing Barcelona to maintain their strong record in this fixture, Hansi Flick will hope to have key players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha available. However, the most crucial figure on the pitch if he features will undoubtedly be midfield maestro Pedri.
Before Flick’s arrival, Pedri endured a difficult spell at Barcelona, struggling with frequent injuries. But over the past 14 months, he has stayed fit and become an indispensable part of the reigning La Liga champions.
The numbers behind Pedri’s impressive form
Pedri has been outstanding for Barcelona in both attack and defence. According to FBref, he ranks in the 99th percentile for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, 98th for passes attempted and progressive carries, and 97th for expected assisted goals. He also sits in the 90th percentile for blocks, proof of his growing defensive contribution.
Alongside Frenkie de Jong, Pedri will play a crucial role in helping Barcelona control the midfield, an area that could decide the outcome of El Clásico. If he can outplay Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, and Arda Güler, the Catalans will have a strong chance of repeating their memorable 4-0 win at the Bernabéu last season.
Pedri has shown signs of fatigue in recent weeks, which wasn’t helped by starting both of Spain’s World Cup qualifiers during the October international break. Hansi Flick may choose to rest him against Girona or Olympiacos to ensure he is fully fit for the trip to Madrid.
