Today’s El Clasico is a must-win game for Real Madrid, who are 11 points behind their arch-rivals, but Barcelona are undefeated in La Liga and they will be desperate to keep it that way.
Which players could make the difference? From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Luka Modric and Karim Benzema, here are a pundit’s views.
Lionel Messi
Barcelona’s third goal against Deportivo on Sunday started very deep, with lots of passes and movement off the ball, and Messi was at the heart of it. It was a glimpse of what he might be like in a few years, when the pace is gone but he still has the vision. Right now, though, he still has both.
Cristiano Ronaldo
With five goals in four games, Cristiano Ronaldo comes into the game in his best form of the season. He is now a striker, so the key thing for him is that he needs the service of the team. He doesn’t beat defenders one-on-one anymore, instead he needs the ball in positions where he can finish in one or two touches.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
For me, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the best goalkeeper in the world alongside David de Gea. It’s not just because of his amazing saves that tend to come in every game, earning points for Barcelona, it’s also the way he distributes the ball.
Sergio Busquets
He is so important for Barcelona that he was rested in the 4-0 win over Deportivo because if he’d have picked up another booking he’d have missed the Clasico.
Busquets is back to his best because Barcelona are playing in a way which suits him much better.
Luka Modric
Modric is another player who is back to his best. He is better when Casemiro is present because it allows him to make those passes that break defensive lines.
Karim Benzema
He has that sense, in a way like Messi, to know what the team and the game demands, whether to play the ball deeper or wider. Yes, he has lost his goalscoring touch but his instinct is still there and I think he will start scoring again.
Source: Dailytrust
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