Date: Saturday, October 26 Venue: Nou Camp Kick-Off: 17:00 BST Who will emerge victorious as Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid clash in the first "El Clasico" of the season?
Team News
Barcelona's Lionel Messi is fit to face Real Madrid on Saturday after overcoming a thigh injury. The FIFA World Player of the Year missed clashes against Celtic and Valladolid, but started Tuesday's Champions League draw with AC Milan. Centre-back Gerard Pique is a slight doubt with a hamstring injury, meaning Carlos Puyol could step in. Real Madrid will be boosted by the return of Gareth Bale, after the world's most expensive player made his return from injury be coming off the bench against Juventus midweek. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas started that game but is again expected to be dropped for this La Liga clash, with the Spain captain being used in Europe only so far this season. Diego Lopez is again likely to start in his place. (BBC)
Key Stats
Barcelona are without a win in five games against Real Madrid in all competitions (D2 L3); they have not gone six Clasicos without a victory in the last 10 seasons. After their 3-1 cup victory and 2-1 league win at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid have the opportunity to win three successive Clasicos in all competitions for the first time since 1979. Last season, Madrid drew 2-2 with Barca at the Nou Camp and won 2-1 at the Bernabeu. If he scores one goal in this game, Lionel Messi will overtake Alfredo Di Stefano as the top scorer in the history of El Clasicos (18). (eurosport)
Likely Line-Ups
Barcelona Valdes, Montoya, Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano, Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Neymar Real Madrid Lopez, Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Illarramendi, Khedira, Modric, di Maria, Ronaldo, Bale
Match Preview
This weekend will see old English rivals Sunderland and Newcastle clash in the Premier League's first Tyne & Wear derby of the season, but if you like your local rivalries to be more continental, this one's for you. Barcelona vs Real Madrid - it's the one fixture on the footballing calendar most fans look for each season and once again promises to be spectacular. Madrid, despite going unbeaten against Barca last season, still could not prevent the Nou Camp giants from winning La Liga, and with their rivals three points ahead of them as things stand, know a win here is crucial if they are to avoid a similar disappointment. Both sides will be brimming with world class players - Lionel Messi returns for the hosts, while Gareth Bale, who completed a world-transfer-record-breaking move from Spurs over the summer, is tipped to line up for Madrid. Then you have the likes of Neymar, Cesc Fabregas, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo to factor into the equation, which should all make for a mouth-watering affair. Prediction: 2-2
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
