For the first time in over 8years, Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid will face each in an El Clásico at the Nou Camp on Sunday in a highly anticipated match with both Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo not featuring.
Lionel Messi sustained a fractured arm and is sidelined for three weeks during the 4-2 victory over Sevilla in the La Liga whiles Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus to from Real Madrid FC in the summer.
Barcelona have struggled of late to win matches as they've managed to secure one win in four matches in the La Liga after draws and loss against Girona, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia and Leganes respectively.
However, immense pressure goes to Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui after guiding the outfit to their worst start to a season in 17 years. The Los Blancos have failed to win any of their last four La Liga matches including three losses.
Head to Head Statistics
Real Madrid
Games Played - 238
Matches Won -Â 95
Matches drew -50
Barcelona
Games Played - 238
Matches Won - 93
Matches drew -50
IN-DEPTH ANALYSISÂ
The host have lost a crucial player, a player whose creativity, decision-making, style of play and pace can make the opponents game plan redundant, that player is Lionel Messi.
The little Argentine, with no shadow of doubt, will be missed by the Blaugrana but they've shown in the UEFA Champions League after beating Inter Milan 2-0 that they can grind results against opponents.
Rafinha Alcantara filled in the void of Messi and scored. Ernesto Valverde's men will go into the game full of confidence after recording victories against Sevilla and Inter Milan.
The visitors will also be booted confidently following their Champions League triumph over Viktoria Plzeň. However, as stated earlier, the Los Blancos have struggled with the clear difficulty being the impotency in front of goal as well as the frailty of the defence.
They have scored once in their previous four as it is a clear manifestation that they are missing their talisman who is enduring a wonderful campaign with the Biaconeri in Italy.
Barcelona have shown they can put the ball into the back of the net without Messi as they proved it over their two previous fixtures, scoring four goals.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, have again struggled to score coupled with difficultness in keeping clean sheets. The dicey encounter will be decided and eventually won by the side who will be stout in defence.
PREDICTION
2-0
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