Rodri is aware that Real Madrid remain a formidable opponent despite their poor start to the La Liga season, as he prepares to play in his first clásico on Sunday.
Madrid have already lost twice in the league, whereas Barcelona have won all their matches. But the midfielder, who returned to Spanish football this summer after seven successful years at Manchester City, believes his teammates should not read too much into their rivals’ results.
“I’ve known them [Madrid players] all for many, many years,” Rodri said. “I’ve played in plenty of knockout ties against them and I realise that one of their great strengths is making their opponents think they aren’t that good.
“They don’t fool us – or at least they don’t fool me. Real Madrid are always a formidable opponent, whatever form they’re in.
“And as for us – which is what I’m trying to get across to the lads – we’ll need to be at our very best if we’re to beat them.”
Lamine being Lamine. Frenkie being all of us. 😭 https://t.co/hIHrNlXuFs
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 24, 2026
The match will be a new experience for Rodri, who has watched the fixture since childhood and could have joined Madrid before choosing to return to La Liga with Barcelona. The 30-year-old, who captained Spain to World Cup glory this summer, said he was looking forward to being involved in one of football’s biggest club games.
“I’m really excited and can’t wait to experience it for the first time,” he said. “I’ve watched it loads of times on the telly, as a fan when I was little, and as I’ve grown up, I’ve followed both teams. It’s always a special match to play in, whether you’re on one side or the other, so I’m really happy.”
Rodri also stressed the need for Barcelona to control their emotions at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Catalan club go into the match after their first defeat of the season, a 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday that ended an 11-game winning run.
“These are different matches,” Rodri said. “They are matches where emotions run high and where you have to try to put those emotions aside. You have to be as level-headed as possible and stay 100% focused, because these are matches where the outcome is decided by the smallest of details.”
The midfielder has been praised for his early performances since joining Barcelona, where he believes his experience can help a team that already has considerable quality in midfield.
“I think the main thing I bring to this team is my experience, that leadership role, organising my teammates and instilling a positive mindset in them,” he said. “Perhaps lifting their spirits during difficult times. In terms of footballing ability, it’s clear that the standard is very high.
“All the players, especially in midfield, possess that quality. Obviously, I’ve come here to make a contribution, but I can offer even more in that regard.”
Barcelona are seeking a third consecutive La Liga title, but Rodri said the club should concentrate on improving instead of setting fixed targets for trophies. He believes progress across the season will put them in a stronger position to compete for major honours.
“I don’t think it’s wise to set specific targets for results, because football can take you down one path or another,” Rodri said.
“But it’s clear that the perception must be that the club, both as an institution and as a team, is better than it was last year. That’s why players were brought in. That’s why they’ve adopted this philosophy of climbing the ladder step by step.
“I believe it’s during that climb that you gradually reach the level which brings you closer to winning major honours. That’s why we don’t set ourselves targets like winning La Liga or the Champions League.”
A Gordon goal in El Clásico? Yes, please. https://t.co/pF9lqSa82F
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 23, 2026
Barcelona’s lead over Madrid has raised the prospect of an important early advantage in the title race, but defender Pau Cubarsi said there was little room for complacency at this stage of the campaign.
“It is a very big gap, but La Liga is a long season,” he said. “It’s only just begun, and whether we win or lose, we have to stay focused because, as we know, anything can change at any moment in La Liga, and we have to maintain our momentum.”
Midfielder Gavi added that Madrid could quickly make up ground. “That’s quite a few points, but the season is very long and they could catch up with us again in just two or three matches,” he said.
Barcelona forward Anthony Gordon also played down the idea that his side should be considered favourites, given the intensity and quality of the contest.
“I think favourites go out the window in these kind of games. I think it can go, can go either way because there’s so much tension, there’s so much competition and the level on show, any player can decide the game like this,” he said. “So no, I don’t think we’re favourites. I think it’s very equal.”
Meanwhile, Rodri also believes that Madrid will be fuelled both by Jose Mourinho and their recent poor results in the clásico.
“Mourinho is a manager with a very strong personality and has a major impact on every team he coaches,” Rodri said. “He has a very clear philosophy and always manages to raise the competitive level of his teams.
He added: “They told me that Real Madrid won, I believe, just one match out of the last six or seven clásico showdowns. So they’ll have a huge desire to redeem themselves.”
