Ikhtisar Mainz 05 II

Former Barcelona youth coach Pau Moral believes breakout defender Xavi Espart possesses the tactical awareness required to keep Real Madrid winger Yan Diomande quiet in Sunday's La Liga clash. The versatile youngster enters the first El Clasico of the campaign in fine form after netting his maiden Champions League goal against PSG in midweek.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has reflected on his whirlwind tenure at Real Madrid, admitting that his dismissal from the Santiago Bernabeu dugout felt premature. The Spaniard, who arrived with a burgeoning reputation from Bayer Leverkusen, saw his stint in the Spanish capital cut short despite being active in multiple competitions.

Fermin Lopez has lit the fuse ahead of Sunday's El Clasico by taking aim at Real Madrid and their manager Jose Mourinho over their constant focus on officiating. The Barcelona midfielder believes the Catalan side must ignore the noise from the capital and focus on their own superior form as they look to extend their lead at the top of La Liga.

Rodri has warned his Barcelona teammates not to be deceived by Real Madrid’s inconsistent start to the season ahead of Sunday’s massive El Clasico. The veteran midfielder, who joined the Catalan giants this summer, believes his club's arch-rivals often lure opponents into a false sense of security before striking.