According to a report by Barca Universal on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Barcelona teenager Xavi Espart is in line to start at right-back against Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clasico after impressing Hansi Flick in the Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 19-year-old has reportedly done enough to convince the Barcelona manager that he deserves to keep his place in the starting XI for the highly anticipated meeting at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Although Barcelona suffered a 4-2 defeat against PSG in Paris, Espart delivered an encouraging individual performance. He showed composure when defending against the threat of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and contributed going forward by getting on the scoresheet.

His display has reportedly improved his chances of featuring from the start against Real Madrid, especially with Jules Kounde facing a race against time to recover from an ankle sprain.

The French defender is not expected to be fit enough to start on Sunday. Even if he is included in the squad, Barcelona may choose to use him from the bench rather than risk him from the opening whistle.

Espart’s versatility has also helped his case, with Flick impressed by his ability to operate on either side of the defence. The youngster has been competing for opportunities alongside experienced options such as Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde.

However, his performance against PSG appears to have put him in a strong position to continue at right-back for the Clasico.

The teenager could face a difficult test against Madrid, with Yan Diomande reportedly a potential threat down his side following Vinicius Junior’s suspension. Espart’s defensive concentration will therefore be important if he is handed the responsibility of starting.

There are also minor fitness concerns surrounding the young defender. He reportedly experienced quadriceps discomfort before the PSG fixture and suffered a heavy knock to his ankle during the match. Nevertheless, the report indicates that neither problem is expected to rule him out of Sunday’s encounter.

Unless Flick makes a late adjustment, Barcelona could retain the defensive setup used against PSG. Espart is expected to occupy the right-back position, Cancelo could start on the left, while Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin are tipped to form the central defensive partnership.