- Real Madrid will today, December 23 host Barcelona in El Clasico match
- This will be the first El Clasico match of the season between these two foes
- Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are expected to shine in this encounter
Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid will on Saturday, December 23 be the center of attraction for all football lovers in the world as Real Madrid will face their bitter rivals Barcelona.
The encounter is expected to be tough considering the rivalry between these two Spanish giants and also the players these two foes will parade.
Real Madrid who are the current Spanish and European League champions are not currently finding it rosy this season in the Spanish League.
Barcelona on the other hand are currently topping the Spanish La Liga table and they are also unbeaten so far this season in Spain.
Real Madrid face Barcelona in first El Clasico (photo: Insider)
The Catalan giants are currently on 42 points after 16 games played this season, while Real Madrid occupy fourth position on the standings with 31 points from 15 games.
Los Blancos will want to end the unbeaten run of Barcelona this season at the Santiagi Bernabeu, and this is what will make the match tough as the Catalans will not want to lose against their rivals.
Real Madrid have an almost fully fit squad to choose from with Raphael Varane fit and available again.
Casemiro and Sergio Ramos return from suspension, while Gareth Bale is vying for a start. Only Enzo Zidane misses out.
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Barcelona remain without long-term absentees Ousmane Dembele and Samuel Umtiti. Thomas Vermaelen could start at centre-back again, while Javier Mascherano is another option though he has barely played this season.
The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will also continue in this encounter as these two players will be the major focus in the El Clasico and the time of the match is 1pm.
Earlier, NAIJ.com had reported how Real Madrid star Ronaldo confirmed his readiness for the El Clasico by posting a picture of himself and his teammates in training ahead of the match in Madrid.
Ronaldo has not that been impressive this season for Real Madrid in the La Liga scoring only four goals, but he is expected to prove himself as he has recently won his fifth Ballon D'Or award where he beat Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
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Source: Sports.naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Saturday, 23 December 2017