Real Madrid and Barcelona clash in the 229th installment of the El Clasico, at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
As Real Madrid and Barcelona prepare to clash in the El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday, both teams move into the fixture, in wake of success in their respective Champions League matches.
The game is the 229th meeting between the two fierce rivals, with Real holding a slight edge over the Catalans, thanks to a 91-89 win record.
Real had thrashed Liverpool 3-0 on a memorable night at Anfield, whereas Barcelona enjoyed a 3-1 result against Ajax, at the Nou Camp, which has raised expectations ahead of the highly billed clash.
Though the fixture may give a small idea as to how the rest of the season may pan out for either teams, still winning it remains the number one priority for fans from both sides.
Picture this, the match is not shorn of star value, as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodrigues, Neymar,Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi may light up the Bernabeu, with the game expected to be a high scoring thriller.
The two talking points of the contest are Suarez's return for the Catalan side, post his four-month World Cup biting ban on Italy's Giorgio Chiellini, and also the fact that Messi may become La Liga's leading all time goal scorer, provided he nets a brace against Madrid.
Real will unfortunately miss the services of Welshman Gareth Bale, who had scored a brilliant solo winner against the Catalans, in the 2013-14 Copa Del Rey final, which may well have Luis Enrique's side heaving a sigh of relief.
Even Real's Portuguese defender, Pepe, may miss out on the tie, thanks to a niggle he picked up against Liverpool, which means coach Carlo Ancelotti would have to juggle his defensive options, and opt for newer faces.
A three pronged attack looks like the norm for both sides, as Barcelona may play Neymar, Messi and Suarez upfront, whereas Real may employ Rodriguez, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the forward line.
Despite Barcelona completing the league double over Real in the 2013-14 season, thanks to respective 2-1 and 4-3 successes, still they may be wary of the fact that Ancelotti's side are the reigning European champions and cannot be taken lightly by any measure.
In fact, the manner in which they dispatched off a strong Liverpool outfit, away from home, speaks volumes about their quality, and Enrique's side would have to be at their level best in defence, if they are to stop Real's quicksilver attack.
As for Barcelona, they would be relying on Messi, Neymar and Suarez to prise open Real's defence, and will look to draw first blood, in front of a partisan Bernabeu crowd.
Toni Kroos, Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and Raphael Varane will be other Real players, who would be expected to pull in their weights against Barcelona, whereas the visitors have Ivan Rakitic,Rafinha and Jeremy Mathieu to boast of in their ranks.
Real will probably play old warhorse, Iker Casillas in goal, as the Spaniard will be aiming to shut up critics, after some slopshoddy performances for the national team in recent matches.
Claudio Bravo may keep goal for Barcelona, and also the presence of pass-masters, Xavi and Andreas Iniesta, may well prep up the Catalans ahead of the big clash.
As things stand, the latest installment of the El Clasico promises to be a goal riot, with the above mentioned stars expected to take center stage, albeit with some dazzling performances.
So sit back and enjoy, as two of the finest footballing teams on the planet, lock horns, and try to gain an upper hand in the contest, which may well set the tone for the rest of the season.
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