Cubarsi warns Mbappé ahead of the Clasico

For the first Clasico of the season between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, the young Catalan defender Pau Cubarsi has already identified the main danger: the French attacker Kylian Mbappé, whom he has faced several times both with their clubs and at international level.

A past already shared

Cubarsi recalls that his last duel with Mbappé took place during the 2026 World Cup semi‑final between France and Spain, a match won 2‑0 by La Roja. That summer meeting strengthened the mutual knowledge of the two players. The Catalan defender was thus able to gauge the Frenchman's impact in big occasions.

In an interview given to, Cubarsi stressed the need to stay vigilant against the captain of Les Bleus. “He can do a lot of damage to us,” he said, adding that “Mbappé is a great player, one of the best in the world.” He emphasized that controlling the Frenchman throughout the 90 minutes was essential to limit his influence.

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Cubarsi also reminded that the Clasico goes beyond a simple Liga fixture. “The Clasico is a match that is lived on edge, with nerves and tension,” he affirmed, calling it one of the biggest matches in the world. This extra pressure, according to him, demands constant concentration from every player.