According to a report by Daily Post on Saturday October 24, 2026, former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has backed Los Blancos to defeat Barcelona in Sunday’s El Clásico, warning that José Mourinho’s side could punish the Catalans by exploiting their mistakes in possession.

Barcelona will host their fierce rivals at the Spotify Camp Nou in the first El Clásico of the 2026/27 La Liga campaign, with both teams eager to secure a significant victory.

According to Daily Post Nigeria, Van der Vaart believes Real Madrid have the tactical qualities to take advantage of Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities, particularly when the league leaders lose possession.

Speaking to Winwin, the former Netherlands international said he expected Madrid to win the encounter because of their ability to launch dangerous counter-attacks.

“I expect Real Madrid to win the match. Although Barcelona are playing well, I think Real Madrid can exploit Barcelona’s loss of possession very effectively through counter-attacks. I believe they will punish Barcelona,” Van der Vaart said.

The former midfielder, who spent two seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu, also praised Madrid’s mentality, describing the Spanish giants as a team that consistently fights for its manager and gives everything on the pitch.

“I think the big difference is that Real Madrid have become a winning machine. The players fight for the manager and give their all on every inch of the pitch,” he added.

Van der Vaart’s prediction comes despite Barcelona’s impressive start to the league season. The Catalans have reportedly won all nine of their La Liga matches and hold a six-point advantage over Madrid, who sit third in the standings.

However, Barcelona head into the contest after suffering a 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The result could raise questions about their defensive organisation, although Van der Vaart does not believe the European setback will necessarily affect their performance against Madrid.

He acknowledged that losing a major match was disappointing but suggested Barcelona would be capable of putting the defeat behind them.

For Madrid, the fixture presents an opportunity to reduce the gap at the top of the table and make a statement against their biggest rivals.

Mourinho’s side will hope to take advantage of any spaces Barcelona leave behind, while the hosts will look to use their attacking quality and home support to maintain their strong domestic form.

With both teams carrying different forms of momentum into the encounter, the tactical battle could prove decisive. Barcelona will need to be careful in possession, while Madrid must be clinical if they are to turn Van der Vaart’s prediction into reality.

The highly anticipated El Clásico is scheduled for Sunday at the Spotify Camp Nou, with the result likely to have an important impact on the early La Liga title race.