Clásico combined XI: Which Barcelona, Real Madrid stars make the cut?

Barcelona meeting Real Madrid in El Clásico is always a big deal, but when the two bitter LaLiga rivals meet in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday (stream LIVE at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+) they do so with a major trophy on the line.

Barça coach Hansi Flick and Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti both have some of the world’s best players at their disposal. But which players would each manager like to take from their rivals and add to their own team, if given the chance?

ESPN’s Barcelona and Real Madrid correspondents, Sam Marsden and Alex Kirkland, have each chosen their combined XI based on this season’s form and talked through their selections.

Marsden: Five of the players I’ve chosen are undisputed starters in the XI, in my opinion. Do you want to guess who they are?

Kirkland: OK. Thibaut Courtois? Pedri? Jude Bellingham?

Marsden: Not Bellingham. It’s not because they’re the five best players, necessarily — I just think they’re the clear picks, this season, in their positions.

Kirkland: OK. So Jules Koundé at right-back. It’s been Real Madrid’s problem position all season. Dani Carvajal (out since October with a ruptured ACL) is unavailable long term, and there’s no way Lucas Vázquez is making this team…

… I guess the only question is: could we do what Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti does in big games and pick midfielder Federico Valverde at right back?

Marsden: Let’s come back to that. For me, the five are Courtois, Koundé, Alejandro Balde at left-back — Ferland Mendy is too injury-prone — Pedri and Lamine Yamal.

Kirkland: All five of them are in both of our XIs, so no disagreement here!

Shall we talk about the defense? Because for me, center back was difficult. I can see a strong case for picking, as you have, an all-Barça back four. There’s been a lot of talk about Barça’s so-called fragility with their high defensive line, but I think it has actually proved pretty effective.

Marsden: It’s two players from three for me: Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez and Antonio Rüdiger, based on form this season. Éder Militão is still injured, and Ronald Araújo hasn’t been fit often enough.

For me, the Barça duo have the edge, but I’d listen to your argument in favor of Rüdiger…

Kirkland: I’ll be honest, I was tempted by Cubarsí and Martínez too. I think you can make a case that Martínez has been the best defender in LaLiga this season, but I like Rüdiger’s character, leadership, threat from set pieces and athleticism. I think Rüdiger and Martínez might be too similar to pick together, and I love what Cubarsí brings to the team in terms of his passing. I went for Rüdiger and Cubarsí, though I accept it’s harsh on Martínez.

Marsden: At right wing, there’s no doubt. It’s Yamal. Rodrygo is decent, but he’s not Lamine.

Kirkland: Agreed. But what about on the left? Are we both really leaving out FIFA’s best men’s player for 2024, Vinícius Júnior? It feels kind of ridiculous not to have him in there. But given the season he has had, and the competition from Raphinha, I think it’s justified.

Marsden: It probably has to be Raphinha based on this season. He’s having a potentially once-in-a-lifetime campaign. Look at the big games: three goals in the two Clásicos so far, the Bayern Munich hat trick, deciding the Benfica tie, top scorer in the Champions League, matching Lionel Messi‘s goal contributions in a Champions League campaign…

It’s tough to leave Viní Jr. out for his Brazil teammate, but it’s an easier decision than one we’ve got coming up, for me.

Kirkland: If we’re talking about consistent impact this season, there’s no question. Vinícius has had some big performances — in the Champions League playoff first leg against Manchester City, and against Borussia Dortmund — but they haven’t come often enough. The fact that he was whistled at the Bernabéu earlier this month says it all.

Is he the better player in many ways? Sure. But if we’re picking a combined XI based on this season’s form, it’s Raphinha. So the only way to fit Viní Jr. into the team would be to adjust the shape, somehow.