That time of the year is here again when the eyes of all the football lovers will be on the epic clash of the two biggest clubs in the world. It is the clash of the Titans in the world of football, dubbed the El Clasico, involving arch rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona. This time around, the match will be played in Santiago Bernabeu, home turf of the Galacticos.
Currently, Real Madrid is placed at the top of the ladder in the Spanish La Liga (75 points), with Barcelona within touching distance of them (72 points). It means that this will not only be a matchup of prestige but also it will involve the race to the top of the points table.
Barcelona have a glorious record against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, winning three of the last five El Clasicos played at the aforementioned venue. They will look to retain that glory once again on 23rd April. The Catalan Giants have no shortage of talent and firepower in their team, yet some of the players deserve special mention among the huge constellation of stars. This time around, the onus to make Barcelona come out on top will be on the following players-
Lionel Messi-
Having been labelled the best player in the world, the four times Balon d’Or winner is the man all the Barcelona fans will be looking towards for a glorious outing on the home turf of the Galacticos. Lionel Messi is in immaculate form going into this match, having secured the top spot in the highest goalscorers list in the La Liga this season with 29 goals. Barcelona will be depending on him heavily to get them a win, a much-needed one, which will ensure the top spot in the league table for them.
Luis Suarez-
The Uruguayan striker has been a force to reckon with since he has joined Barcelona from Liverpool. With Lionel Messi and Neymar on either of his sides, Luis Suarez is becoming a scorer of quite a few goals. His tally of 24 goals, which places him right behind his teammate Lionel Messi in the top goalscorer’s list this season, is evidence enough to show the Uruguayan’s determination and dominance over the opponent defenders. It goes without saying that he will a key factor for Barcelona in the forthcoming El Clasico.
Gerard Pique-
Termed as one of the best defenders in the world, Gerard Pique is the mainstay of defence for Barcelona. His concentration on the ball and his determination to not get disposed of it can remind people of the ex-Barcelona defender, his compatriot Carlos Puyol. Barcelona of late has found themselves in a soup in the defensive department, conceding 4 goals to the likes of Paris St Germain and 3 to Juventus in their recent Champions League matches. So if Barcelona wants to win the El Clasico and go to the top of the table, Pique will have to play a significant role.
