According to a report by Madrid Universal on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, citing SPORT, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is expected to closely analyse Barcelona’s Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain as he prepares his team for Sunday’s El Clasico.

Barcelona’s defensive injury problems could provide Mourinho with valuable insight into Hansi Flick’s tactical decisions ahead of the highly anticipated meeting between the Spanish rivals. The Portuguese coach is reportedly keen to study the players selected and how the Catalan side adapts to the absence of key defenders.

Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia are both unavailable for Barcelona’s clash with PSG, leaving Flick with the challenge of organising his defence against the reigning European champions.

Mourinho is expected to pay particular attention to how Barcelona adjust their defensive structure without the two players. Their approach could reveal potential weaknesses or tactical patterns that Real Madrid might seek to exploit during Sunday’s encounter.

Kounde’s fitness will also be an important factor in the build-up to El Clasico. Although the French defender is set to miss the European fixture, he could still recover in time to face Real Madrid.

If Kounde becomes available, Flick would have more options when selecting his defensive line. This means Barcelona’s formation and personnel against PSG may not necessarily reflect the setup they use at the weekend.

Real Madrid have their own tactical decisions to resolve ahead of the Clasico. Vinicius Junior’s suspension, Federico Valverde’s potential deployment at right-back and Arda Guler’s creative influence are among the factors shaping Mourinho’s plans.

The Madrid manager also has attacking alternatives in Yan Diomande and Endrick, both of whom can operate in wide positions. Their ability to contribute defensively could help maintain the team’s balance while allowing Jude Bellingham to focus more on his attacking responsibilities.

Another major question concerns Real Madrid’s overall approach against Barcelona. Mourinho must decide whether to press aggressively to disrupt their opponents’ build-up or adopt a more compact defensive shape and look for opportunities to counterattack.

Barcelona’s performance against PSG could offer useful clues about Flick’s preferred combinations, defensive organisation and ability to respond when opponents apply pressure. These details may help Mourinho refine his strategy for the weekend.

However, the possibility of late changes to Barcelona’s team means Real Madrid cannot rely entirely on what they observe in the Champions League. With Kounde potentially returning and other selection decisions still to be made, Mourinho will need to prepare for several possible scenarios ahead of one of the season’s most significant fixtures.