Xavi Espart Eager for First El Clasico as Barcelona Prepares to Face Real Madrid

Camp Nou Stage Awaits Teenage Defender

Nineteen-year-old left-back Xavi Espart has quickly established himself in Barcelona’s senior setup since his promotion from the La Masia academy last summer. The Spanish youngster has earned a starting role in each of his eight appearances across all competitions this season, contributing two goals and two assists in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. As Barcelona prepares to host Real Madrid on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 03:00 WIB, the defender expressed his eagerness to feature in the fixture.

“It is a very special match, especially because I have been a Barca fan since I was a little boy,” Espart told the club’s official website. “I watched a lot of El Clasico matches. I am very much looking forward to this match and cannot wait.” Having already featured in high-stakes fixtures such as a recent meeting against Paris Saint-Germain, the teenager insists he will approach the derby with composure. Espart stated, “The first thing, I want to play in this match and win it,” adding, “I must remain calm, believe in myself. I feel ready to play my first Clasico and I am very much looking forward to it.” Barcelona has won nine of its 12 matches across all competitions in the 2026/2027 season.

Standings and Stakes at the Summit

Barcelona enters the tenth matchweek of the 2026/27 La Liga campaign sitting at the top of the league table with 27 points, having won nine of their first nine matches, according to coverage from Vidio. Real Madrid occupies third place with 21 points, trailing their arch-rivals by six points as both teams head toward the Monday kickoff at Camp Nou.

For Hansi Flick’s side, the objective is maintaining their perfect domestic momentum and extending their cushion at the summit. Real Madrid arrives aiming to narrow the gap despite dealing with squad absences. According to 20detik, Los Blancos will be without Vinicius Junior, who serves the final matches of a four-card suspension incurred against Villarreal, while Barcelona must navigate the fixture without midfielder Dani Olmo due to an adductor muscle injury expected to sideline him for roughly a month.

Barcelona Struggles to Defend Set Pieces

While Barcelona’s attacking output has powered their domestic run, recent matches have highlighted recurring defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in defending set pieces. Reports from Langit7.id note that defensive lapses during corner kicks against Real Betis and Paris Saint-Germain exposed aerial limitations within Flick’s squad. Against Real Betis, Valentin Gomez equalized after beating Espart in the air inside Barcelona’s six-yard box, and a similar issue repeated against PSG when Lucas Hernandez escaped Gordon’s marking to score with a header. With Real Madrid deploying physically imposing aerial threats such as Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen, Barcelona’s defensive organization during dead-ball situations will face a stringent test.

Kickoff is scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026, at 03:00 local time in Indonesia (WIB), with television and streaming coverage available through regional OTT providers.

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