Football's most glamorous match is this weekend. Superstars, the title race and two of the biggest clubs this world has seen. Barcelona head into this fixture with the zest and eagerness that has driven them unflinchingly this season while Real Madrid continue to find their feet under their new manager.
The El Clasico is always a spectacle and is mainly so because of the calibre of players who compete in it. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez will often decorate the minds of Barcelona fans while Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema will occupy those of Real Madrid fans.
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Either way, this is going to be a cracking game and heading into the game, considering we've just had an international break, we assess the most in-form players who could really make the difference and maybe, decide the title race.
#5 Keylor Navas
Keylor Navas has had an outstanding season for Real Madrid considering he almost quit the club in the transfer window to head to Manchester United. Right now, however, fans will be holding on to him tight considering the form he's been in. Easily one of the best players in the club this season, Navas will be expected to keep out Barcelona's deadly trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar from scoring.
He continues to defy the odds when it comes to saving penalties. Be it good preparation and research before hand or the ability to read his opponents excellently, Keylor is a master when it comes to saving penalties and close-range efforts from inside the box.
His penalty save and multiple other saves against Sevilla are a reminder of this Costa Rican's talents. Against Barcelona, he'll have to be in fine form to ensure his side are still in the title race with only few weeks remaining.
#4 Sergio Busquets
Easily the best defensive midfielder in the world, Sergio Busquets has backed these claims with incredible performances for the Catalans over recent weeks with his ability to intercept, read and execute a pass. Having been introduced to the world by Pep Guardiola, Busquets has risen and risen to cement his place in the Barcelona and Spain national squad with his quick reading of the game and the ability to produce a pass that completely outwits the opposition.
Recently, he struggled in the UEFA Champions League against Arsenal but made for it in the return leg at the Camp Nou as well as in the match against Villareal in the Liga – despite their draw.
Against Real Madrid, Busquets will be expected to thwart the efforts of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos as they'll often try to release the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez. He can settle the tie given the chance and if he can neutralise the deep threat, he can pretty much dump Real Madrid out of the title race.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo
The only reason Cristiano Ronaldo is not in the top two of this list is because of the number of penalties he's missed this season. The Portuguese living legend has been in his usual world class form throughout the season scoring 41 goals for Real Madrid but has often come under criticism simply because there are a lot more people who love his arch nemesis, Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo has the knack of scoring in the El Clasicos with 15 goals to his name and the game this weekend would probably be his biggest one for a while given its direct implications of the Liga title race. If Ronaldo were to score, he can set things right with his penalty misses in the month of March.
The former Manchester United man has scored 6 goals in his last 4 games for Real Madrid with two of those being man of the match performances. Given his influence on the game increases with the presence of someone like Gareth Bale beside him, he has every chance to take on Barcelona's trio of MSN this weekend and show them that Real Madrid have an equally strong attack.
#2 Lionel Messi
As explained earlier, Ronaldo should have possibly been higher on the list but Lionel Messi has been equally impressive with 4 goals and 3 assists in his last 4 games for Barcelona across both, the UEFA Champions League and the Liga BBVA.
While Messi can often wow crowds with his dribbles and shots, its his overall gameplay that really defines the player he is. His link up play with almost everyone on his team is mesmerising to watch and he can really dictate the pace of the game based entirely on short and through balls.
Against Real Madrid, much like Ronaldo, he's scored only 15 goals but this time, with potent finishers on his side, he can really contribute and possibly go on and settle the Liga title race once and for all.
#1 Luis Suarez
The best out and out striker this season, Luis Suarez has been exceptional for Barcelona and has at time almost single-handedly taken on the opposition defence. Alongside Neymar and Lionel Messi, Suarez has been deadly assisting and scoring at will ensuring his team cruise through.
He was always a talented striker be it in in Ajax days or his Liverpool days and has constantly proven at Barcelona that he and his team could do the impossible and actually defend the UEFA Champions League trophy. That achievement in itself reflects on the kind of form he's been on this season.
In his last four games, he's scored 2 goals and contributed 2 assists but against Real Madrid – a team who often deal with out and out strikers well – he has the potential to play a slightly deeper role and dictating the game from there. Either way, he'll be a huge asset for the Catalans this weekend and could potentially – as mentioned a billion times before – finish out of the title race in favour of his team.
