Madrid lost all four ‘Clasicos’ last season - Now they’re looking for payback against Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain:

Real Madrid and a red-hot Kylian Mbappe host Barcelona on Sunday, aiming to hit back at their rivals after losing all four 'Clasicos' last season.

Mbappe has scored a La Liga-leading 10 goals in nine rounds - four more than his nearest chaser - and another five goals in the Champions League over the first two months of the campaign.

Barcelona arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu with injury concerns in attack and coach Hansi Flick heading for a seat in a stadium box, after he saw a red card for protesting in the last round.

Lamine Yamal will start for the visitors after having played two games since returning from a nagging groin injury. But Robert Lewandowski is ruled out for Barcelona with a hamstring injury and forward Raphinha is doubtful.

KEY MATCHES

All eyes will be on the first Clasico of the season to see whether new coach Xabi Alonso can get Madrid out of their rut against Barcelona.

Barcelona swept the quarter of Clasicos in all competitions last season by a combined score of 16-7.

Barcelona won the Liga fixture in Madrid 4-0 to kick off that run. They then won 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup, 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final, and again 4-3 in La Liga.

"Last year they showed some great finishing, and we have to try to stop that firepower while being crisper up front ourselves," Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said.

Madrid beat Juventus 1-0 with a goal by Jude Bellingham on Wednesday, but Alonso's side suffered a 5-0 humiliation at Atletico Madrid in another big La Liga matchup last month.

Barcelona arrive after a 6-1 win against Olympiakos. Midfielder Fermin Lopez scored a hat-trick and Marcus Rashford added two more goals.

Madrid leads defending champions Barcelona by two points at the top of the Spanish league table.

Third-placed Villarreal and Atletico, in fourth, will look to close the gap at the top. Villarreal are at Valencia on Saturday, while Atletico travel to fifth-placed Real Betis on Monday with both level on points.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Rashford is in a strong position to start up front for Barcelona along with Yamal. The on-loan English forward has scored six times since joining from Manchester United.

Pau Cubarsi is a lock to start in Barcelona's defence. The 18-year-old and either Eric Garcia or Ronald Araujo will have the task of slowing down Mbappe.

"Everyone knows how talented (Mbappe) is, and all their players are world-class," Cubarsi said. "But we have to focus on our game." -AP