According to a report by Madrid Universal on Friday, October 23, 2026, former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has predicted that Real Madrid will defeat Barcelona in Sunday's El Clásico, arguing that José Mourinho's team possesses the tactical qualities needed to exploit Barcelona's defensive weaknesses, particularly during counter-attacks.

Barcelona are preparing to welcome their fierce rivals to Spotify Camp Nou on October 25, with Hansi Flick's men aiming to strengthen their position at the top of La Liga. The Catalan club have enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, winning all nine of their league matches and establishing a six-point advantage over third-placed Real Madrid.

However, Van der Vaart believes Madrid have the necessary experience, quality and attacking threat to overcome Barcelona despite the hosts' excellent domestic record. The former Netherlands international expects Madrid to take advantage of any mistakes made by Barcelona, especially when Flick's players lose possession while attempting to build attacks.

“I expect Real Madrid to win the match,” Van der Vaart told Winwin in an interview highlighted by Madrid Universal.

The former midfielder also highlighted Madrid's winning mentality, describing the determination and commitment of Mourinho's players as a significant advantage heading into the highly anticipated encounter.

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

Madrid enter Sunday's contest with considerable confidence after recording four consecutive victories across all competitions. Their recent performances include an emphatic 4-1 triumph over RB Leipzig in the Champions League, where they have also secured victories in all three of their league-phase fixtures.

Barcelona, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. Despite the setback, Van der Vaart believes the result will not necessarily undermine Barcelona's confidence or significantly influence their performance against their traditional rivals.

“No, I don't think the defeat against Paris Saint-Germain will affect Barcelona,” he said.

Real Madrid will be without Vinícius Júnior, who is serving a four-match La Liga suspension following his dismissal against Villarreal. Nevertheless, Van der Vaart does not anticipate major tactical adjustments from Mourinho ahead of the decisive fixture.

“No, I don't expect any surprises. I think he'll field practically the same team as against Leipzig, when they won at home,” he added.