Copa del Rey 2018-19: 5 factors that could decide the El Clasico

#1 The mercurial magician: Lionel Messi's red-hot form

The last time Lionel Messi played at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

There won't be an El Clasico without Lionel Messi if Barcelona can help it. In the last Clasico, this man was tying his shoelaces and the Camp Nou burst into chants of "Messi, Messi". He played only about 30 minutes in that game and still caused a visible change. Real Madrid were more defensive when Messi was on the pitch.

Messi's personality in the Clasico and especially at the Bernabeu is sort of The Joker. He is the villain that you would love to have on your side but alas he plays for your arch-rivals. Messi is the top-scorer in the El Clasico and the memories that he created at Bernabeu are not explainable in words. To name a few, the hattrick in the 4-3 win, the crazy solo goal in UCL semi-finals, the 92nd-minute sucker punch, the brace in the 6-2 win, it goes on. All these moments came in Clasicos at Bernabeu. Each of these performances was a beauty in itself even though the ultras never applauded him.

Messi ran riots at the Sanchez Pizjuan against Sevilla with a hattrick and an assist. He would be carrying the same form to the Bernabeu. Who needs Leo Messi in red-hot form, in a game where he needs no extra motivation, to be on the opposition? This is going to a crazy night for Madrid if they don't stop him, and props to them if they somehow do. But after those prematch comments from Reguilon and Vinicius about them not being scared of Leo, we don't know what to expect. One thing is for sure, neither their captain nor any of their senior members will say that. They have suffered enough.