Why Luis Suarez Should Start the Clasico for Barcelona

Big games like Clasicos need big players to make big impacts. And they don't come bigger than Luis Suarez.

If Luis Enrique is to secure his dream result at the Santiago Bernabeu, picking the Uruguayan hitman from the start could be the key to a Barcelona triumph.

One of the main doubts about Suarez is that he will not be fit enough to play.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

However, Luis Enrique confirmed at his press conference on Friday that the Uruguayan would be taking to the pitch at some point during the game.

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Luis Enrique: "Luis Suarez will certainly play some minutes tomorrow, but I don't know how many..." #fcblive #elclasico

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) October 24, 2014"

In a game of this magnitude, if he's fit enough to play any part, then he's fit enough to start. Enrique wouldn't risk including him if there were doubts over his fitness.

For Suarez's part, he's been working exceptionally hard to be fit enough to kick off his season on Saturday. He told the Barca magazine, per Sport, that he's raring to go.

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When I have gone to the last few games that the team has played I’ve noticed how I’m getting more anxious to play and help them out. I hate feeling so impotent because I can’t do anything to help them.

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He struck twice for Uruguay against Oman in a recent friendly and played a key part in his country's goal against Saudi Arabia in another exhibition game.

Doubters had claimed he looked out-of-shape, when he appeared for Barcelona B in a friendly against Indonesia U19s.

But nobody was saying that he put Oman to the sword, looking every bit the forward that finished as the Premier League's top scorer last season.

Uncredited/Associated Press

A key reason for Suarez to start is because Barcelona have no better option for the right-hand side of their attack.

Pedro has been in poor form this season and even a spirited, but ultimately ineffectual, display against Ajax should not be enough to keep him in the side.

David Ramos/Getty Images

Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez, the latter particularly, have both impressed when given chances by Enrique but neither is ready to play in a Clasico.

Suarez, on the other hand, if he can control his negative urges, is exactly the sort of forward that's needed.

Messi has been playing in a slightly deeper role and has been laying on chances for his team-mates.

Neymar has benefited a lot from this, scoring freely, as demonstrated against Ajax in the Champions League.

David Ramos/Getty Images

A quick movement from Messi at the tip of the midfield, a perfectly placed pass and bang! Neymar pulls the trigger.

The forward on the right side, be it Pedro or Munir, has been less efficient. Suarez has sat in the stands watching those two spurn chances that would be his bread and butter.

If Enrique wants to go for glory and put a seven-point gap between Barcelona and Madrid, then Suarez should start the game.

He could play more defensively though, promoting Andres Iniesta to the forward line with Lionel Messi and Neymar, and going with a midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Xavi.

But Suarez certainly knows how to introduce himself. He netted on his Ajax debut and also against Stoke on his first appearance for Liverpool.

Will he make it a hat-trick at the Bernabeu? You wouldn't bet against it, if Enrique gives him the chance.