Hristo Stoichkov Talks El Clasico, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez and More

Former Barcelona star Hristo Stoichkov has sent out a warning to Real Madrid ahead of Saturday's El Clasico suggesting the Bernabeu clash could be "hell" for the hosts.

Barca are currently three points clear of Real at the top of La Liga and could welcome back long-term absentee Lionel Messi for the weekend's headline match.

In the Argentine's absence, Neymar and Luis Suarez have stepped up their play impressively, and Stoichkov insists all the pressure is on Madrid, per RAC1 (via Football Espana):

"Right now, Barcelona are the best and three points clear and another important thing is if Messi returns from injury. They’re very motivated. Madrid are under more pressure because if they lose they’ll fall six points behind and then must win at Camp Nou. It could be hell for Madrid."

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

The Bulgarian legend warned Messi to be cautious in making his return, suggesting that perhaps the four-time Ballon d'Or winner could come off the bench in the second half and "score a golazo."

He also insisted that Messi, Neymar and Suarez should be on the podium for this year's Ballon d'Or ahead of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo given that they helped Barca win a treble last season, per RAC1 (via  Football Espana):

"Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez should be on the Ballon d’Or podium in January," said Stoichkov. "Now that [Sepp] Blatter isn’t there, he can’t manipulate the votes. All the trophies went to Barcelona last season. If others didn’t win anything then why should they be there [referring to Cristiano Ronaldo]?"

Stoichkov, 49, was hugely successful in two separate spells at the Camp Nou in the 1990s.

He is no stranger to controversial comments about Madrid, and as a former Blaugrana star he was never likely to back Real for the upcoming Clasico.

It is a tough game to predict and Bleacher Report's Dean Jones has analysed some of the key areas in which the game could be won and lost at the weekend:

Los Blancos come into the clash on the back of their first defeat of the 2015-16 La Liga campaign having lost 3-2 to Sevilla last time out. Barcelona, on the other hand, have won four on the bounce in the Spanish top flight.

It would be a huge boon for Real to claim the win and join Barca at the top of La Liga, but the Catalans could deal a huge blow to their archrivals in the title race if they can take all three points.