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The 2020-21 edition of La Liga returns this weekend with arguably the most important clash of the season as Barcelona and Real Madrid lock horns at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Saturday. The two Spanish giants are undergoing a transitional period at the moment and will be desperate for a victory in this fixture.
Barcelona have been exceptional under Ronald Koeman and find themselves only one point behind league-leaders Atletico Madrid in the La Liga standings. The Catalans edged Real Valladolid to a 1-0 victory last weekend and will need to put in a better performance this weekend.
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Barcelona face Real Madrid in El Clasico on Saturday
Barcelona and Real Madrid share one of the most intense rivalries in world football and will want to get one over their arch-rivals this weekend. Real Madrid have also been impressive in recent weeks and will have to work hard to win this game.
Clashes between these two behemoths of Spanish football have often dominated the discourse in La Liga for generations. Here are five important battles that could decide the outcome of El Clasico this weekend.
#5 Ousmane Dembele vs Ferland Mendy
Often criticised for his lack of fitness and sheer misfortune, Ousmane Dembele has come into his own this season. The Barcelona winger can be frustrating to watch at times but his pace and ambidexterity add a unique element to the Catalans' impressive attacking force.
Dembele has scored important goals for Barcelona this season and netted a late winner against Real Valladolid last weekend. The Frenchman can be unstoppable in full flow but will likely meet his match in compatriot Ferland Mendy on Saturday.
Ferland Mendy has been one of Real Madrid's most consistent defenders this season and has the pace and strength required to thwart Dembele's runs. Both French stars have enjoyed excellent seasons so far and will view this game as an opportunity to cement their careers in La Liga.
#4 Luka Modric vs Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets and Luka Modric are two of the greatest midfielder Spanish football has ever seen. The two veterans have been the beating hearts of their respective teams for over a decade and have become pioneering figures in El Clasico.
Sergio Busquets has had his problems over the past few years but seems to be back to his best in Ronald Koeman's new formation. With Pedri and Frenkie de Jong by his side, Busquets has been given a modicum of freedom in the middle of the pitch and has used his technical superiority to dictate terms for Barcelona.
Luka Modric has a similar role for Real Madrid but can also venture into the final third and serve as a deep-lying playmaker. The two experienced midfielders have been involved in intriguing battles in the past and will want to make their presence felt on Saturday.
#3 Pedri vs Casemiro
Barcelona and Real Madrid have both placed plenty of emphasis on their midfield this season and their decisions are starting to pay dividends this year. Pedri, in particular, has made waves in La Liga with his array of skills and has been a hallmark of Barcelona's transition under Ronald Koeman.
The teenage midfielder has already displayed the maturity of a seasoned campaigner and will prove to be a handful for Real Madrid this weekend. Casemiro is one of Real Madrid's most in-form players at the moment and will likely be tasked with disrupting Pedri's movements in the midfield.
Casemiro also presents a viable threat in the final third and his wealth of experience bodes well for Los Blancos in this fixture. The Brazilian midfielder did not see much of Pedri in the reverse fixture last year but Ronald Koeman's new formation at Barcelona will likely pit the two midfielders against each other this weekend.
#2 Frenkie de Jong vs Toni Kroos
Real Madrid have relied heavily on their experienced stars this season and Toni Kroos has stepped up to the plate for Zinedine Zidane this year. The German maestro is in the form of his life at the moment and will want to ensure that his side dominates against Barcelona this weekend.
Frenkie de Jong has also shown tremendous improvement under Ronald Koeman this season and will be up against a stern test against Real Madrid. The Barcelona star has played as his side's third centre-back this season but might have to move into the midfield to level the playing field in this fixture.
The two midfielders have enjoyed stellar campaigns so far and have massive roles to play in the outcome of this game. Toni Kroos and Frenkie de Jong are two of the best midfielders in the world at the moment and their box-to-box abilities will have to come to the fore for Real Madrid and Barcelona on Saturday.
#1 Lionel Messi vs Karim Benzema
Lionel Messi did not enjoy the best of starts to his La Liga campaign but is now back to his exhilarating peak. The Argentine talisman has scored an astonishing 23 goals in 25 league games so far this season and his impeccable record against Real Madrid holds Barcelona in good stead going into this fixture.
Real Madrid have their own talisman in Karim Benzema and the Frenchman has stepped up for his side this season. Benzema is the glue that binds Real Madrid's attack together and his experience and poise will be crucial to his side's chances against Barcelona on Saturday.
Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema might not encounter each other frequently on the pitch but their performances will have a massive bearing on this match. The two seasoned campaigners are perfectly capable of singlehandedly determining the course of this game and will have to be at their best this weekend.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Who has had a better 2020/21 season?
