Eight Barcelona players could make their El Clasico debut against Real Madrid

· BarcaUniversal

FC Barcelona host their arch-rivals Real Madrid on Sunday, aiming to produce a strong reaction after losing 4-2 to PSG in the UEFA Champions League. The Catalans’ summer recruitment drive could give Sunday’s El Clasico a distinctly new look, with five signings and three young players in contention to experience the rivalry against Real Madrid […] The post Eight Barcelona players could make their El Clasico debut against Real Madrid appeared first on Barca Universal .

FC Barcelona host their arch-rivals Real Madrid on Sunday, aiming to produce a strong reaction after losing 4-2 to PSG in the UEFA Champions League.

The Catalans’ summer recruitment drive could give Sunday’s El Clasico a distinctly new look, with five signings and three young players in contention to experience the rivalry against Real Madrid for the first time in a Barcelona shirt.

Rodri brings the experience while others face a first Madrid test

Indeed, Barcelona’s five new signings: Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Dominik Livakovic, Karim Adeyemi, and Anthony Gordon are all set to experience the Clasico for the first time in their careers.

Among the potential debutants, Rodri arrives with the most extensive history against Real Madrid.

The Barcelona midfielder, who snubbed Los Blancos in the summer, has faced them 17 times across spells with Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, recording six wins, four draws and seven defeats, and is excited for the occasion .

Jesus also knows what it takes to face the Spanish giants. During his time at Manchester City, the Brazilian forward recorded three victories and one defeat against Real Madrid, scoring three goals and providing an assist .

Adeyemi, meanwhile, has less positive memories of the opposition. His Borussia Dortmund side lost to Real Madrid in the 2024 Champions League final and again in the 2025 Club World Cup quarter-finals.

Gordon and goalkeeper Livakovic have a different starting point: neither has previously faced Real Madrid in his career, making a potential appearance an entirely new challenge.

Three young players are also in contention

The prospect of an El Clasico debut extends beyond Barcelona’s established signings. Youngsters Xavi Espart, Brian Farinas and Hamza Abdelkarim are also in the frame, although their chances of featuring differ considerably.

Espart, for his part, appears all set a starting role after impressing in the midweek loss to PSG at right-back.

The absences of Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia through injuries only strengthens the 19-year-old La Masia graduate’s chances of making his first Clasico appearance.

Farinas and Abdelkarim face a tougher route to the pitch, with both youngsters more likely to have to wait for an opportunity from the bench.

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