With Real Madrid-FC Barcelona, ESPN Preps for Most Ambitious LaLiga Match Coverage Yet The 12th El Cl sico on ESPN platforms is part of long-term deal with Spanish league By Mark J Burns, SVG Contributor
Friday, May 9, 2025 - 11:52 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
ESPN will produce its most comprehensive coverage of any LaLiga match on its platforms this upcoming weekend when it broadcasts El Cl sico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. For the first time, the rivalry match will air on ESPN as well as on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.
El Cl sico is the gold standard for domestic club soccer rivalries, says Manny de la Fe, VP, production, global event and studio, ESPN. With the arrival of Kylian Mbapp to Real Madrid, the emergence of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, and the bevy of global soccer stars on either club, the fourth and final match of the season between the clubs represents an inflection point for this generation of stars.
It is easily the most consequential, he continues, with a potential LaLiga title on the line. Four points currently separate first-place Barcelona and second-place Real Madrid.
From left: ESPN Deportes commentators Mauricio Pedroza, Alex Pareja, Moises Llorens, and Rodrigo Faez
Sunday's match, which will broadcast at 10:15 a.m. ET, will be the 12th El Cl sico on ESPN platforms since the company signed an expansive and long-term contract in 2021 to broadcast top-flight Spanish soccer domestically.
According to Leigh Michaud, manager, remote operations, ESPN, the network is partnering with MediaPro on coverage of El Cl sico, including providing an OB van, 33 technical crew members, equipment, a concourse set, and two pitchside desk locations. The match will be a world feed provided by the host broadcaster. The production will deploy 40-plus cameras, including several super-slo-mos, as part of the world feed.
Over 45 years at ESPN, de la Fe says, we have established a 24/7 sports news and information brand/DNA that fans have come to expect when big events happen in sports. The 261st El Cl sico is one example of a marquee event that requires our ambitious commitment across media - from linear and digital studio shows through unmatched event presentation.
ESPN's set for El Cl sico overlooks the Port Vell in Barcelona.
ESPN's goal with coverage of El Cl sico, he adds, is to let the viewer at home experience the event and the spectacle around it and to guide fans towards a better understanding of the stories unfolding before them on their linear or digital device.
Play-by-play announcer Ian Darke and ex-Real Madrid player and soccer analyst Steve McManaman will provide English-language commentary, and Fernando Palomo and Eduardo Biscayart will handle Spanish-language duties.
We have assembled a collection of experts who cover the league, understand the passion and history of this rivalry for our coverage, notes de la Fe. We want the viewer to feel like they are in Montju c, Barcelona.
Featured shows and segments from Barcelona this weekend will air across SportsCenter, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN FC and LaLiga Al D a on YouTube, and other outlets.
In addition, ESPN's social-media team plans to capture and distribute El Cl sico content, including interviews with rivalry legends, across TikTok, Instagram, X and other platforms. ESPN reporters Jordi Blanco and Rodrigo Faez will headline event coverage from Madrid. Soccer writers Sam Mardsen (FC Barcelona), Alex Kirkland (Real Madrid), and Graham Hunter will contribute columns and insider perspectives around El Cl sico.
Most recent headlines
02/01/2026
Freezing Florida: NHL's EVP, Entertainment Bob Chesterman on Taking the Wint...
02/01/2026
NHL Winter Classic 2026: TNT Sports Prepares for First NHL Outdoor Game in Sunsh...
02/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
02/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
02/01/2026
Any Given Day: Cork University Hospital premieres Wednesday 7 January on RT One and RT Player at 9:35pm
RT will debut a powerful new six-part documentary se...
02/01/2026
Friday 2 January 2026
All episodes of Heated Rivalry will be landing on Sky and...
02/01/2026
Sequins, chat shows, live sporting action, ground-breaking docuseries and brand-new Irish drama to kick off 2026
New Year, New Content Coming Soon across RT
...
01/01/2026
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship The scholarship will cover tuition and housing for one Berklee College of Music stud...
01/01/2026
New year, new games, all with RTX 5080-powered cloud energy. GeForce NOW is kicking off 2026 by looking back at an unforgettable year of wins and wildly high fr...
31/12/2025
Back to All News
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix Scores Again With the Lions-V...
30/12/2025
As the College Football Playoff Enters the Quarterfinals, ESPN Blows Out Its Meg...
30/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Original ArticlesTake a look back at all our coverage of big-time productions, game-changing technologies, and state-of-the-art new faci...
30/12/2025
MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 30, 2025 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, J...
30/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
30/12/2025
Your live countdown to 2026 with Inhaler, David Gray, Lyra, Garron Noone, Sharon...
30/12/2025
It marked the first civilian operational authorization for a HAPS flight in Europe, led by Space42's subsidiary, Mira Aerospace
The flight demonstrated HAP...
29/12/2025
San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With Halftime Laser SpectacularStunning display caps $200 million renovation of Levi's Stadium techBy Dan Daley, Audio Edito...
29/12/2025
The Cup's Around the Corner: An Inside Look at Broadcast Preparations for th...
29/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Longform VideoWatch the standout keynote conversations, deep dives, and panel discussions from the year for free on SVG PLAY!By Brandon ...
29/12/2025
From crisper Lossless audio and immersive music videos in beta to new Audiobooks+ plans, custom transitions between tracks, and in-app Messages, we keep levelin...
29/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
RT has unveiled an exclusive first look at the new Dancing with the Stars promo...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today!By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
P...
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
With Real Madrid-FC Barcelona, ESPN Preps for Most Ambitious LaLiga Match Coverage Yet The 12th El Cl sico on ESPN platforms is part of long-term deal with Spanish league By Mark J Burns, SVG Contributor 
