ElClásico on ABC is getting some help from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. ESPN and Marvel Studios teamed up to promote Sunday’s FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid match, the first time the rivalry has aired on ABC, and they put Paul Bettany’s Vision at the center of the push while his new series, VisionQuest, is still rolling out on Disney+.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, October 25, at Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona. It is the 265th ElClásico, and putting it on ABC means anyone with an antenna can watch Barcelona and Real Madrid without a streaming subscription.
How Vision Fits Into A Soccer Broadcast
The centerpiece is a 30-second promo voiced by Bettany, who has played Vision since Avengers: Age of Ultron. Variety reports that a custom promo is scheduled to air during pregame coverage on both the English- and Spanish-language broadcasts, and ESPN FC’s X and Facebook accounts will share that vignette before the match. A separate VisionQuest spot is booked for ESPN’s halftime coverage.
The tie-in runs online too, including custom VisionQuest-themed creative voiced by Bettany on ABC and ESPN social accounts. Bettany also sat for a soccer-themed Q&A that went out across ESPN FC’s social channels, and a motion poster landed in ESPN FC’s Instagram and TikTok Stories along with ESPN Deportes’ Instagram Story.
Other parts of Disney pitched in during the week, with Live with Kelly and Mark and SportsCenter both promoting the match ahead of Sunday. ESPN also sent creators Devin Caherly and Dylan Acanfora to Barcelona to make content around the trip.
Where To Watch ElClásico
Coverage starts at 3 p.m. Eastern with a one-hour pregame show on ABC and ESPN+, hosted by Dan Thomas with Craig Burley and Luis Garcia, plus Sid Lowe reporting from Barcelona. Ian Darke and Steve McManaman have the call in English. ESPN Deportes carries the Spanish-language broadcast with Fernando Palomo and Eduardo Biscayart, and the match also streams on ESPN+ and, for ESPN Unlimited plan subscribers, the ESPN App. Postgame shows follow at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.
The stars expected on the pitch include Lamine Yamal and Pedri for Barcelona, with Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior leading the way for Real Madrid.
Catching Up On VisionQuest
Anyone who sees the halftime spot and wants to jump in can find VisionQuest on Disney+, where it premiered on October 13 with new episodes on Tuesdays through the November 11 finale. The Marvel Television series is the final chapter of the trilogy that began with WandaVision and continued in Agatha All Along, with Bettany back in the title role.
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