Stars Set To Shine When Barcelona Faces Real Madrid

As soon as Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid over the summer, neutrals and fans of both teams were ecstatic at the prospect of watching Ronaldo and Messi, the two best players in the world, go head to head twice a season.

As of the weekend, the dream match up appeared to be in doubt, but it now appears that both Messi and Ronaldo will be fit in time for the game even if they start the game on the bench.

2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo has been out for well over a month and was involved in a severe club versus country row after aggravating his injury playing for Portugal in World Cup Qualifier against Hungary.

Despite playing in only seven games thus far, Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s top scorer with nine goals in all competitions. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have actually been able to overtake Barcelona in the league table, but the recent run of matches has been unconvincing.

Barcelona has not been clicking on all cylinders yet this season either but put in a superlative performance against Inter in the Champions League without Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Should both players be fit in time for El Gran Clasico , it will be a massive boost for Barcelona.

In his short but dazzling career, Messi has often been at his best against Los Merengues . In the 2006-2007 season, La Pulga scored a remarkable hat trick at the Camp Nou to salvage a three-three draw for Barcelona.

Last year, Messi was on target to seal victory in Camp Nou before running rampant last spring when Barcelona beat Real Madrid and the Santiago Bernabeu six-to-two.

Messi and Ronaldo are sure to be the main attractions Sunday, but there will be a plethora of stars on display for both teams.

Pep Guardiola will call on the dynamic duo of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, both of whom were at their best in ravaging Inter Tuesday. For Barcelona to win again, the two Spanish internationals will need to put in another solid shift.

At the back, left back Eric Abidal—who signed a contract extension with club Wednesday—will be joined by iconic captain Carles Puyol and the young Gerard Pique.

Pique, widely considered the best young defender in Europe, is hoping to see Ronaldo suit up saying, “Everybody, not just we players, wants to see the best players. Cristiano is one of the best and I’m sure he’ll play".

The former Manchester United man helped shut down Ronaldo in last season's Champions League Final. 

Up front, Guardiola will have difficult decisions to make. If Messi and Ibrahimovic are unable to play from the start, Thierry Henry could be handed a starting role. Although the France captain has only scored once this season, his class and experience would benefit Barcelona’s side.

For Real Madrid, 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka is finally settling into his new role at the Bernabeu, but the Madrid’s hero this season has been Gonzalo Higuain.

El Pipita rescued Real Madrid numerous times last season, netting 22 times in La Liga, but Florentino Perez was set on spending money and brought in Karim Benzema from Lyon. After being shelved on the bench at the beginning of the season, Pellegrini finally gave in and began starting Higuain, and his decision, as obvious as it may have been, has paid off.

With so many stars on the pitch, El Gran Clasico will surely produce another epic match.