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Unfortunately for Barcelona fans, Lionel Messi picked up an injury yesterday in their match with Sevilla. It was a game in which they won, but the injury of their star player is bound to be the main talking point.
It means that he will miss El Clasico, which is a shame for the neutrals. However, with Real Madrid losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in the summer, Messi's injury could prove to make the game more balanced and exciting for the neutrals.
That said, there is still plenty of talent on the cards to look forward to in this match next Sunday, so here are the first five which spring to mind.
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#1 Philippe Coutinho
The former Liverpool play-maker is picking up form at the right time for Barcelona. It has by no means been a stellar start to the season by his standards, but his start has been consistent and enough to see Barcelona top of LaLiga.
He had an impressive World Cup with Brazil, albeit his nation did underperform. He has transcended his form back on to Spanish soil, which will come with immense pleasure to Ernesto Valverde.
In this match, Coutinho may not be as free to roam as he would like to, with each Barcelona player given their strict roles. It's more important than ever that every player knows where they should be at all times in games like this. One step out of line and Real Madrid will punish you, and the same can be said vice-versa.
Coutinho picked up a goal in his last match with Sevilla, so I have no doubt that he will be looking to get on the score sheet once more against Real Madrid. It's a tie in which Lionel Messi is famous for, so to fill the void, players will really need to step up.
Coutinho has been good at Camp Nou during his time with Barcelona, so he will receive a confidence boost knowing the Catalans will be playing in front of their own fans.
#2 Sergio Ramos
Obviously Sergio Ramos will play his part in the match in one way or another. He is the hero of Madrid, and the villain of Barcelona. All of this makes for perfect viewing as a neutral.
Now that the two star men are out of the equation, the main battle will be between Luis Suarez and Sergio Ramos. If you are familiar with both players, then you will know exactly why that is exciting.
Both players are known to be rough and troublesome when they want to be, so to see them paired up when the stakes are high is very exciting. Luis Suarez is known for bombarding his way into the opposition's box, but with Ramos' striking demeanour, it's not going to be easy for the Uruguayan.
Have the popcorn at the ready, because Sergio Ramos is bound to make the headlines following this match.
#3 Gerard Pique
On the other side of the pitch is Gerard Pique, a man who follows the same narrative as Sergio Ramos. Long story short, the two hate each other, despite what watching international football might have told you.
He's not going to give Karim Benzema and company any sort of respect in this match. All he's going to do is defend his goal for all he is worth, because that's what he was born to do.
He thrives on the big occasions, and it doesn't get much bigger than El Clasico. He lives and breathes for this game, expressing his hatred for Real Madrid countless times in the past.
His tall frame allows him to get the better of the opposition in aerial duels, while also shoving the attackers off the ball many times.
He's known as one of the best defenders in the world for a reason, and we are about to witness why on Sunday.
#4 Marco Asensio
The 20-year-old hasn't been the most consistent player this season, but if anybody is to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo, it's the young Spaniard.
In the last two El Clasico meetings, Marco Asensio made his mark by scoring in each. He's beginning to thrive into a mature player, and in the absence of Ronaldo, Asensio is only going to get more game time and grow as a player.
If there's anyone who the Barcelona defence should be looking to isolate, it's Asensio, because whenever he is given the license to roam, he's deadly. We have witnessed this with the Spain national team, as well as Madrid this season.
He's only scored one goal and provided one assist this season, according to WhoScored, but if he's to add to his tally, it better be against Real Madrid's long-time rivals.
#5 Ivan Rakitic
When you think of El Clasico, the infamous midfield battles over the years often springs to mind. And it's not difficult to see why, because there really has been class in the centre of the park throughout history.
However, when you consider form this season, not many are better than Ivan Rakitic. He has been a solid solution in the centre for Barcelona, while also racking up a few goals and assists along the way, which is always an added bonus.
Most notoriously, he scored a stunner for Barcelona against Tottenham in the Champions League, a game which caught the eyes of many. He will look to deal with the likes of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, which is never an easy task.
These are just a few examples, because all 22 players on the pitch are bound to make their presence known. Who do you think will be the standout performer in this classic tie? Have your say in the comments.
