Real Madrid legend Guti is anticipating a high-scoring thriller for the season’s first El Clasico, predicting a 4-2 victory for his former club at the Camp Nou this Sunday. While confident in his forecast, Guti acknowledged in an interview with SPORT that the competitive nature of the match means the result could easily swing in either direction. But he accepts the game could easily go the other way.
The stakes are high as Barcelona enters the contest with an unblemished record, having secured nine wins from their opening nine La Liga matches. They currently sit six points clear of third-placed Real Madrid, who hold 21 points. Jose Mourinho’s squad arrives with momentum, boasting a four-match winning streak that includes a dominant 4-1 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig. Notably, Los Blancos have netted four goals in each of their last three fixtures across all competitions.
Barcelona’s recent form took a slight hit during a Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. Despite goals from Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal that leveled the score twice, the Catalans ultimately fell 4-2. This fixture serves as a backdrop to the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled to take place in London just 24 hours later.
Guti highlighted the rivalry between Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal as a centerpiece for the upcoming award, admitting his personal preference is for the Madrid star to win. However, he noted that the field remains wide open, with Rodri and Harry Kane also among the top contenders. In a significant move, Real Madrid has opted to end their two-year boycott of the Ballon d’Or gala, which began after Vinicius Jr lost to Rodri in 2024. According to L’Equipe, figures including Kylian Mbappe are expected to attend the ceremony in London this year.
