Bellingham, Tchouaméni and Valverde return as survivors of Real’s last Barcelona win

Bellingham, Tchouaméni and Valverde will be among the Real Madrid players going into Sunday’s Clásico having already experienced a Madrid league victory in Barcelona. The club’s most recent La Liga win away to Barça came in October 2023, when Real prevailed 2-1 at Montjuïc, with Bellingham scoring both goals.

The English midfielder will not be the only familiar face from that victory to meet Barça again. Tchouaméni and Valverde were also in the winning starting side, while Bellingham proved decisive. Real therefore head into the fixture with three players who have experienced a league win in Barcelona, although that memory belongs to a side that has since changed.

The turnover is clear from the players who are no longer part of the current squad. Kroos, Modric, Lucas Vázquez, Carvajal, Alaba, Joselu, Nacho and Fran García were among those involved in the 2023 victory, but are no longer with Real Madrid. Mendy also started, while Camavinga came on in the second half. The former line-up offers a snapshot of how much has changed since Madrid’s last successful league visit.

Sunday’s meeting is therefore both a fresh Clásico and a return to a result that remains Real’s latest league win in Barcelona. Bellingham has the most direct connection: he scored both Madrid goals in 2023 and is among the players due to face Barça again. Tchouaméni and Valverde complete the trio identified as survivors of that victory.

The opposition context also includes Pau Cubarsí, whom RMC Sport describes as a young player set to lead Barça’s defence in the Clásico. The outlet says it will be the ninth Clásico of his career. Across nine meetings with Kylian Mbappé, Cubarsí has seven wins and two defeats; their most recent meeting cited was the World Cup semi-final, where Spain contained the French forward on the way to the final.

Real return to Barcelona with three players connected to their last league victory there, but in a substantially reshaped squad. The immediate task is the season’s first Clásico, on Sunday at 21:00; the 2023 result remains Madrid’s most recent league reference point in Barcelona.