According to a report by Barca Universal on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Barcelona defender Xavi Espart has sent a strong message to Real Madrid ahead of Sunday’s El Clásico, insisting that his team will battle until the final whistle in their highly anticipated meeting at Camp Nou.

The 19-year-old is determined to help Barcelona secure victory over their fierce rivals as Hansi Flick’s side look to strengthen their position at the top of La Liga.

Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season on Tuesday after losing 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Despite the disappointing result, Espart delivered an encouraging performance on his first Champions League start, finding the net while operating at right-back.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the defeat, the young defender expressed Barcelona’s determination to respond positively against Madrid, emphasising that the players are prepared to give everything in pursuit of victory.

“It’ll be a war. We’ll go all out; we have to give 100% and we’ve got the chance to take more points off them,” Espart said. “We’ll fight to the bitter end.”

Barcelona currently enjoy a six-point lead over Real Madrid in the league standings, making Sunday’s encounter particularly important. A victory would strengthen the Catalan club’s advantage and put further pressure on their rivals in the title race.

Meanwhile, Madrid manager José Mourinho has acknowledged that his team faces a potential disadvantage in terms of recovery time ahead of the showdown.

Real Madrid secured a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday, meaning they will have approximately 24 hours less rest than Barcelona before the weekend fixture.

Despite the shorter recovery period, Mourinho has maintained that his players will give their best as they prepare for one of the most significant matches on the Spanish football calendar.

With Barcelona eager to bounce back from their European setback and Madrid looking to close the gap in the league, Sunday’s El Clásico promises to be a crucial test for both sides.