Mbappé will spearhead Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday without Vinícius Júnior, who is suspended. Despite scoring regularly against Barcelona, he has won only one of his six Clásicos.
A difficult start
Mbappé’s first Clásico, in October 2024, ended in a 4-0 defeat at the Bernabéu. He then scored in the Spanish Super Cup final in January 2025, but Madrid lost 5-2.
In April 2025, he equalised with a free-kick in the 70th minute of the Copa del Rey final, but Barcelona went on to win 3-2 after extra time.
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A hat-trick in defeat
His best Clásico performance came in May 2025. Mbappé scored a penalty in the fifth minute and added a second in the 14th minute from Vinícius’ pass. Barcelona hit back with four goals before half-time, and his third goal in the 70th minute wasn’t enough to stop a 4-3 defeat.
A first win
Mbappé finally won a Clásico in October 2025. He opened the scoring in a 2-1 win at the Bernabéu, running onto Jude Bellingham’s pass in the 22nd minute. He also had a long-range strike ruled out for offside, and Wojciech Szczęsny saved his penalty early in the second half.
Injury setbacks
Injuries affected the rest of his season against Barcelona. A knee sprain meant he only came off the bench in the 76th minute of the Spanish Super Cup final in January, when Madrid lost 3-2. He then missed the 2-0 defeat in May through injury.
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His form this season
Mbappé goes into Sunday with nine La Liga goals, second only to Raphinha. Without Vinícius, who set up one of his goals in the May 2025 hat-trick, more will rest on him to end Barcelona’s perfect league start.
Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images
