Real Madrid’s Last-Minute El Clasico Call Could Make All the Difference

Real Madrid may have gained a significant advantage ahead of the huge El Clasico clash with Barcelona on Sunday.

Los Blancos host their title rivals at the Santiago Bernabeu in one of the biggest fixtures in world football and could go five points clear of Barca at the top of the table with a victory.

It will be Xabi Alonso's first Clasico as Real manager and it appears as though the 15-time European champions are poised to make a last-minute change.

According to AS, Real will close their retractable roof of their €1 billion renovated stadium for the encounter - a move which they have done in a number of occasions since it became operational in 2023.

The first instance was against Getafe because of the poor weather but Real have continued to close the roof in a plethora of fixtures, specifically in important games.

Real are bringing the atmosphere for El Clasico. Image: Getty

Though it created a sauna-like environment in the Champions League against Marseille, the roof being closed is said to amplify the noise created by Madridstas, with ex manager Carlo Ancelotti noting, "Acoustically it's different, there's more noise, a much better atmosphere, I think. That can encourage the team to be even more motivated."

Real have closed the roof on a host of occasions in the Champions League, where they must receive special permission from UEFA to do so.

Article 32 of the regulations states: "The UEFA match delegate, after consulting with the referee, decides whether the stadium's retractable roof will be open or closed during the match."

The situation is different in La Liga, where the decision lies with Real alone. However, the club must decide in advance of any fixture and cannot open or close the roof in the middle of a game.

The closed roof is said to amplify noise. Image: Getty

Extra spice has been added to the game following comments made by Barca wonderkid Lamine Yamal who said Real "steal, they complain" on a Twitch stream with Madrid fan Ibai Llanos’.

The remarks, although likely tongue-in-cheek, are reported to have annoyed Real, according to MARCA, with captain and Yamal's Spain teammate Dani Carvajal set to confront the 18-year-old after the game.