There is so much anxiety surrounding this fixture in both camps as the D-day approaches. Real Madrid are facing the reality of an inconsistent Cristiano Ronaldo and an uninspired Karim Benzema. On the other end of the field, FC Barcelona are doing the best they can to ensure their star player, Lionel Messi, is fit for the crucial match.
Although coach Luis Enrique has consistently denied that the Catalans are not rushing Messi to full recovery ahead of the much-anticipated Spanish derby, reports from Barca’s training camp suggest that the Argentine is burning the midnight oil to be fit for the epic duel at the Santiago Bernabeu. Assuming that Leo doesn’t get fit by Saturday, all eyes will be on the attacking duo of Luis Suarez and Neymar from Barcelona, and Benzema and Ronaldo of Madrid.
Neymar and Suarez
The attacking pair of Neymar and Suarez was quite untested before Messi picked up an injury during the 2-1 win against Las Palmas back in September. The post-injury period proved to be the turning point for the two, who had to fit into the shoes of the legendary forward, and push the injury-stricken club up the table standings in La Liga.
The deadly duo of Neymar and Suarez will be put to test again this weekend against bitter rivals Real Madrid
In Messi’s absence, Suarez and Neymar stood up for Barcelona, and managed to steer them to eight wins, one draw and one loss in their last 10 games. The two have scored a total of 16 La Liga goals for Barcelona this season, and will be looking to continue their fine run when Los Blancos come calling. Since October, Neymar has netted 10 times for his club and provided six assists in seven matches, an impressive record that any top club would be proud of.
Neymar's stats for Barcelona this season
Source: Goal.com
Suarez's stats for Barcelona this season
Benzema and Ronaldo
The attacking duo of Benzema and Ronaldo has gone through a lot of tribulations in recent times, and this could be the reason why the two have managed to stick together for both mental, physical and emotional support. Ronaldo has been blowing hot and cold, and with fatigue and pressure mounting in, the three-time Ballon d’Or winner seems to have found a friend in Benzema, who is equally facing his share of tribulations in form of the Mathieu Valbuena saga.
Benzema's stats for Real Madrid this season
Ronaldo's stats for Real Madrid this season
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As Ronaldo’s future at Madrid continues to hang in the balance, the absence of club officials at his movie premiere sent a stronger signal regarding his possible move out of Spain. The 30-year-old has had a lukewarm relationship with coach Rafael Benitez and several media reports have linked him with a possible move to his former club Manchester United or League One giants Paris Saint-Germain.
In good and bad times: Ronaldo and Bezema set to torment Barca's defense this weekend
However, despite the tribulations, his friend Benzema, 27, has since resumed training. In last week’s training session, the Frenchman scored a beautiful goal and provided an assist for Ronaldo, as the Los Blancos geared up their preparations for the Spanish derby.
This weekend's E Clasico will be won by the club that absorbs the pressure and stays focused throughout the match. To win the match in front of the home fans who are expected to throng the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Benzema and Ronaldo must put aside all the challenges facing them and focus on the win. On the other side, Neymar and Suarez will be looking to prove that their performance in Messi's absence was not by sheer luck, but total skill, hard work and the determination to rise to the top of the La Liga standings.
