Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: 5 Biggest X-Factors in El Clasico
El Clasico is the world's biggest game, and it is almost upon us once again.
Barcelona host Real Madrid on Sunday night in a clash that catches the Catalan side on a high, while Real Madrid are desperate to claw their way back to form.
If Barcelona win at the Camp Nou, they will enjoy a four-point cushion over their rivals with 10 games left to play.
Here we examine the five biggest factors, on and off the field, which could tilt the balance one way or the other when the teams go mano a mano.
5. Squad Condition and Match Build-Up
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Barcelona played on Wednesday night in the Champions League, beating Manchester City 1-0. Real Madrid have enjoyed a week without any commitments. Depending on who you talk to, this could give either side an advantage.
Real Madrid's players will be better rested, that's for certain. Toni Kroos needs time off, after being overused this season. The German took his country to World Cup glory and has been worked to the bone by Carlo Ancelotti since then.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Neymar were required to play the full 90 minutes against City, with El Clasico just four days later. Physically, that might give Madrid a slight edge. But Barcelona might have the mental advantage.
Playing a game at a high level before heading into El Clasico is the perfect warm-up. Madrid were last in action on Sunday night, easing past Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu. That's a world away from what the atmosphere will be like at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Barcelona also have strong team spirit and high morale, given their recent run of form, which has seen them usurp Madrid's position atop La Liga, while Los Blancos have been down in the dumps.
Furthermore, some believe that the fitness of players these days is so high that playing every three or four days is actually good for them, to maintain their raised levels of concentration and sharpness.
4. Will Sergio Busquets Be Fit to Play?
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Barcelona were given a boost on Thursday morning when Sergio Busquets joined in the training session.
The defensive midfielder missed the wins over Eibar and Manchester City after being hacked by Villarreal's Tomas Pina in the Copa del Rey semi-final, injuring his ankle.
Sport's Javier Miguel wrote on Thursday: "Sergio Busquets has completed one part of the training session at the Ciutat Esportiva on Thursday morning, and will be in the squad for the Clasico. The doubt, four days before the biggest game of the season, is whether he will be fit enough to start or not."
Barcelona have an excellent replacement for Busquets in Javier Mascherano, but there's no doubt that the Catalans are stronger with the former at the heart of the team, particularly in a game like this.
Mascherano did a good job against City, charging around and flying into tackles, but Busquets is a cleverer footballer and that will be important in El Clasico.
The Argentinian, a true team player loved by his colleagues and supporters, had generous words to say about Busquets after the game against City.
"What's best for the team is that Sergio Busquets plays. He is the starting central midfielder. If he makes it, it would be welcome. I don't look at this on an individual level. It would be very selfish at this stage of the season to think about what's convenient for one's self. What's best for the team is that Busquets plays, because he's the best in this position. In his absence I will try and do my job, although obviously I can't do it like him because I have other characteristics.
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Luis Enrique might be tempted to use both in midfield, but if he does, he'll need to brace for the inevitable criticism which will land at his doorstep for using a double-pivot system.
3. Iker Casillas, Saint or Sinner?
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Iker Casillas is a man used to coping with pressure as a goalkeeper who has won the Champions League three times. However, things have changed in recent years.
Ever since Jose Mourinho arrived at the Bernabeu, Casillas has been uncomfortable. Even though the Portuguese coach is long gone, tension still remains.
Carlo Ancelotti decided to reinstate the goalkeeper, and that has proved to be a decision with mixed results.
Sure, Madrid lifted the Copa del Rey and Champions League last season, but at times, it seemed that was despite Casillas, rather than because of him.
He has been relatively solid this season, but the horror show against Schalke 04 sent jitters through the Spanish capital.
Casillas made three errors that led to goals as Madrid were nearly dumped out of Europe, losing 4-3 at home.
Keylor Navas, the excellent Costa Rican back-up, played last week against Levante, but Casillas is set to be brought back in for the clash against Barcelona.
Joe Hart put in the performance of his life on Wednesday night but still conceded, and Casillas will need to expect a similar barrage of shots from Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
2. Best Performance in a Supporting Role
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Neither Luis Suarez nor Neymar could find the net against Manchester City, but that's been the exception rather than the norm.
The Uruguayan has finally hit top form for Barcelona after a slow start, and while the Brazilian has declined slightly after a red-hot run of form, he's still a dangerous player.
Those two have formed a spectacular partnership with Lionel Messi and blown opponents away on several occasions.
While they have been soaring, their rivals in Madrid have flopped.
Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have both been criticised in recent weeks, with the latter at least getting on the scoresheet against Levante after going eight games without a goal or assist.
Benzema is a fantastic hold-up player but has also been wayward of late, with the pair and Cristiano Ronaldo described as "lazy-bones" by Marca's Roberto Palomar, per the Guardian.
Both Neymar and Suarez could have had hat-tricks against City but found Joe Hart in their way, while lately Benzema and Bale have epitomised Madrid's downswing, rather than fought against it.
Whichever of these two supporting casts find their rhythm in El Clasico will be the key to a good result for their side.
Suarez will be particularly determined to make an impact. He made his Barcelona debut in the previous El Clasico match in October, which ended in a 3-1 victory for Real Madrid.
1. Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo
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When you think of Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, you think of Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo, whether you like it or not. It is unavoidable.
These two men have dominated world football for years. Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or in 2008, and the only person to touch it since has been Messi.
Between them, they have obtained it seven times, four to Messi, three to Ronaldo. But the Real Madrid star picked it up both last year and this year, meaning he has the momentum.
However, since winning it in January, Ronaldo's form has been off, while Messi has risen to greater levels. Right now, there is no competition between the two.
While Ronaldo was pouting, shouting and sulking, upset by Gareth Bale notching twice while he was left without a goal against Levante, Messi was out creating chance after chance for his team-mates.
It was Messi who played in Ivan Rakitic for the goal that saw Barcelona beat Manchester City on Wednesday.
And the Argentinian set up several more, equally inviting opportunities for Neymar and Suarez, which were not taken.
Messi dazzled against City, and that was only a warm-up for what is to follow on Sunday.
Ronaldo will have watched his rival shine, and he knows that he has to improve on his recent showings if Madrid are to stop Barcelona.
The thing about the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry is that it's perfectly feasible. Ronaldo can dig deep and put one in the eye of Barcelona's supporters during El Clasico. But will Messi dig deeper?
