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Its that time of the year when the whole world turns their eyes onto the lush green pitch of the Spanish LaLiga where the two of the biggest and fan followed clubs battle out against each other to earn the first real bragging rights of the season.
The first El Clasico is about to take place this season with a struggling Real Madrid taking on a Barcelona side deprived of their talismanic leader Lionel Messi at the home of the Blaugrana.
This will be the first El Clasico in almost a decade where two of the greatest players to ever play the game, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, will not be a part of. All eyes will be upon the Little Magician, Coutinho and the FIFA Best Player of the year award winner and Croatian playmaker Luka Modric to negate the gap left by the two giant figures of football.
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With the Clasico in less than a couple of days, let's take a look at how the combined team made of Barcelona and Real Madrid stars would look like, depending on the form of the players this season.
Goalkeeper
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Without a doubt, the best keeper in the fixture. The young German has been in scintillating form for the Blaugrana with the shot-stopper almost single-handedly keeping the opposition at bay when the lacklustre Barcelona defence gets broken.
The 6ft 1-inch tall lad has started all of the 9 matches for the Catalonian club and has only let in 11 goals this season in the league with 2 clean sheets to his name already. Ter Stegen holds an impressive 2.7 saves per match this season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored.com
Defence
Right back - Dani Carvajal
The choice of right-back as Dani Carvajal has been relatively east with Valverde opting to switch between Nelson Semedo and Sergi Roberto occupying for the Blaugrana. The Spaniard has not had the best of the season with the Los Blancos conceding goals due to the shaky defence.
The 5ft 6inches tall defender has already a goal and an assist to his name while he has been pivotal for the Los Blancos with an average of 1.4 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game while also making an average of 1.2 key passes per game and an impressive pass percentage of 91.7
Centre Back - Sergio Ramos
The embodiment of the El Clasico spirit, Sergio Ramos has been in thick of things for the Los Blancos after the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, even taking the penalty duties for his side.
The central defenders have been ever-present for the Los Blancos but have seen his side fare poorly in the last 4 La Liga matches, conceding 6 and scoring just once. The Spanish captain though has racked up his stats with 1.6 tackles as well as interceptions while also making 2.3 clearances per game. The Penalty duties have ensured that the captain has got 2 goals to his name.
Centre Back - Gerard Pique
The former partner in crime for the Real Madrid captain, Gerrard Pique has been irreplaceable for the Blaugrana this season with central defenders Samuel Umtiti and Lenglet being out of the game leaving the Catalonian man as the sole fit central defender in the first team.
The 6ft 1-inch central defender has averaged 1 tackle, 1.4 interceptions and 4.1 clearances per game while also maintaining an impressive 92.7 pass percentage and scoring a goal for the Blaugrana in the process.
Left Back - Jordi Alba
Arguably the toughest position to be decided upon in the team. Jordi Alba and Marcelo are one of the best-left sided fullbacks available in the world leading them into straight comparisons with each other on the team.
The former Valencian full-back though has had the better part this season with Real Madrid failing to either score or a keep a clean sheet in 3 of their 4 games. The Blaugrana man has 1.2 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 0.6 clearances per game while also making 1.4 key passes per match while scoring and assisting one for the reigning LaLiga champions.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored.com
Midfield
Central Defensive Midfielder - Sergio Busquets
One of the best player, if not the best, in the world in his position, Sergio Busquets has been phenomenal for the Blaugrana this season. The 30-year old has been ever present in the Barcelona midfield, nipping opposition attacks while orchestrating the Blaugrana midfield.
The Catalonia born who is set to be the captain for the El Clasico in place of the injured Lionel Messi has averaged an impressive 2.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 0.8 key passes per match while also having a pass percentage of 88%.
Central Midfielder - Ivan Rakitic
The World Cup finalist has continued his World Cup form into the LaLiga for the defending champions. The Croatian has started 8 of the 9 matches for the Blaugrana and has averaged 0.9 tackles, 1.4 interception and 0.6 clearances per match on the defensive front.
The 30-year old on the attacking front has seen the midfielder scoring 2 goals while making an assist at a pass percentage of 90.9. The midfielder has also averaged 1.7 shots per game while also having an average of 0.3 key passes per game.
Central Midfielder - Toni Kroos
The German midfield maestro has been one of the better performers for the Los Blancos this season. The German has averaged 1 tackle, 1 interception and 0.7 clearances per match on the defensive front.
The midfielder on the offensive has been equally good with 1.1 shots, 1.1 crosses and 1.6 key passes per match at a pass percentage of an impressive 94.4%.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored.com
Attacke
Left Wing - Philippe Coutinho
The most influential player for the Blaugrana this season sans Lionel Messi. Philippe Coutinho has flourished in the Nou Camp since his move from the Merseyside last season. The attacking midfielder is set to light up the El Clasico in the absence of his South American counterpart.
Coutinho has so far averaged 3 shots per game, 1.8 key passes per game at a pass percentage of 87.5%. The little magician from Brazil has scored 3 goals while also making an assist for the Blaugrana this season in the league.
Right Wing - Gareth Bale
There is really just one player who deserves to occupy this position from either of the Real Madrid and Barcelona team, Lionel Messi, but an unfortunate injury to the Argentine has ensured his ruling out of the El Clasico leaving Gareth Bale to take his place.
The Welshman had started the season quite brilliantly almost negating the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo in the first few matches. The last few matches though have seen the reigning European champions going from bad to worse, even failing to score in the La Liga for almost 4 matches.
Gareth Bale has so far averaged 4.1 shots per game while also making 0.6 key passes per match. The Welsh forward has so far got 3 goals to his name while also making 2 assist for the Los Blancos.
Striker - Suarez
The Barcelona man would be looking forward to fill the void left by the injured Lionel Messi. The Uruguayan has had a rough patch recently but the match against Inter Milan saw sparks of the form that saw Suarez becoming one of the most feared strikers in Europe.
This season has so far seen the former Liverpool striker scoring 4 goals and 4 assists while having an average of 1.7 key passes per game and 3.6 shots per game. The heat of the El Clasico, however, could bring the best out of Luis Suarez.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored.com
