Pedri Calls El Clasico 'Greatest Motivation' as Barcelona Look to Bounce Back Against Real Madrid After PSG Defeat

Barcelona midfielder Pedri says Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid is the perfect chance to bounce back from their 4-2 Champions League defeat at Paris St-Germain.

Hansi Flick's side lost their unbeaten start to the season in Paris on Tuesday night. Pedri wants an instant response when Madrid visit Spotify Camp Nou on Matchday 10. 

"Coming back to victory in #ElClasico is a great challenge and the greatest motivation," he wrote on Instagram.

He added: "In front of PSG we compete, in front of a great rival and on a great stage, and we know the way. We have confidence and we have football. Here we go!"

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At home, Barcelona have been flawless. They have won all nine of their league games and have 27 points. Only Madrid in 1968-69 have won their opening nine La Liga games, and no side has ever made it ten. Barca have scored 39 league goals, second only to Sevilla's 42 at this stage in 1940-41, and teenager Lamine Yamal has eight goals in nine games.

Flick has some injury trouble to deal with. Rodri is expected to return to the starting line-up after coming on as a second-half sub in Paris. Dani Olmo is out after picking up an injury on Tuesday, and Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen are also missing.

History gives both sides something to hold on to. Barca have won their last two home meetings with Madrid. Another win would match Pep Guardiola's 2008-2010 side with three in a row at home in this fixture, something done only once before this century. Flick is unbeaten in seven Clasicos, with six wins and a draw.

Jose Mourinho, though, has not lost in his last five games against the Catalans as Madrid boss, with three wins and two draws. Kylian Mbappe has 12 goals in 10 games against them. He has also scored 17 penalties and won eight in 74 La Liga games since 2024-25.

Madrid sit third on 21 points. That is their biggest gap to the league leaders at this stage since they trailed by eight in 2012-13. They beat RB Leipzig 4-1 in midweek and have won three of their last six league trips to Catalonia, but Mourinho has complained about having 24 hours less rest than Barca. A win for the hosts would stretch their lead over Madrid to nine points.