The latest instalment of El Clasico will take place in New Jersey on Saturday evening, with bitter rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona locking horns for a glamour friendly.
Real Madrid opened their preparations for the new season with a 1-0 defeat to AC Milan on Wednesday, while Barcelona drew 2-2 with Manchester City in their first friendly of the summer.
Match preview
© Imago
Two months on from their 2-0 success over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final, Real Madrid opened their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign against AC Milan, suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Italian giants.
Carlo Ancelotti's side, who are the reigning Spanish and European champions, will face Barcelona and Chelsea as part of their US tour, before heading back to Spain to prepare for the UEFA Super Cup against Europa League holders Atalanta BC on August 14.
Real Madrid will then open their 2024-25 La Liga campaign against Mallorca on August 18, so it is a very quick turnaround for the club, and it will be interesting to see whether their lack of football this summer harms their start.
Los Blancos have boosted their attack this summer with the signings of Endrick and Kylian Mbappe, but Ancelotti has said that the club's business is now closed despite key defensive and midfield exits in the shape of Nacho and Toni Kroos.
Real Madrid will again be the team to beat next season in Spain and Europe, with Mbappe adding to an already-strong attack, while the exciting Endrick is also set to be heavily involved for the Madrid giants in 2024-25.
© Imago
Barcelona, meanwhile, started their pre-season on Tuesday night with a 2-2 draw against English champions Manchester City, before winning the resulting penalty shootout 4-1.
Pau Victor - the club's only signing this summer - was on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, while Pablo Torre also registered, with both players giving new head coach Hansi Flick something to think about ahead of the new campaign.
Barcelona have two more friendlies in the diary, following this clash with a match against AC Milan on August 6, before tackling Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 12.
The Catalan outfit will then begin their 2024-25 La Liga season against Valencia on August 17, and it is set to be a fascinating campaign for the club, who have entered a new era under the management of Flick.
Barcelona have been quiet in terms of the transfer market, but they are set to make signings before the window closes, with a deal for Dani Olmo advancing, but the club are allegedly now expecting to miss out on Nico Williams' signature.
- L
Team News
© Imago
Mbappe is not with the Real Madrid squad in the United States, with the France international instead given an extended break after featuring at Euro 2024.
Endrick did make his debut against Milan, though, and the Brazil international is again set to lead the line in his first Clasico appearance.
Arda Guler, Luka Modric and Antonio Rudiger should also again be among the starters, while Dani Ceballos is set to stay this summer despite some speculation surrounding his future, and he could feature in central midfield.
Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga will not be involved in the United States, but Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao should join up with the squad ahead of this game.
There will be no Cesar Palacios, though, as the 19-year-old is returning to Madrid after suffering a serious knee injury.
As for Barcelona, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Ansu Fati are absent through injury, but Raphinha, Ilkay Gundogan and Jules Kounde are all set to link up with the squad ahead of this match.
Alejandro Balde made his return from injury against Man City and could now start, while Robert Lewandowski and Inigo Martinez are also set to be introduced into the XI.
Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal are on extended breaks after representing Spain at Euro 2024, while Fermin Lopez, Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi are featuring for the national team at the Olympics.
Victor, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona B from Girona, scored on his debut against Man City, and the Spaniard could retain his starting role.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Vazquez, Vallejo, Rudiger, F Garcia; Modric, Martin, Ceballos; Guler, Endrick, Diaz
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, I Martinez, Lenglet, Balde; Casado, Torre, Gundogan; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Victor
We say: Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona
Matches between these two sides always mean something, even pre-season friendlies, and neither manager will want to lose, that is for certain. We are expecting it to be an entertaining affair between two strong outfits, with the spoils potentially being shared on Saturday evening.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
