Real Madrid host Barcelona at 12:15 p.m. ET on Saturday with Lionel Messi back in the squad for Barca after missing seven weeks out through injury.
The Argentine superstar, 28, injured his knee at the end of September and has been missing ever since but returns for the battle between Spain’s two powerhouses at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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Messi hasn’t missed a single second of their last 27 El Clasico’s but he will have to be content with watching on from the bench.
Below are the starting lineups for both Real and Barca, as Messi will be lurking and ready to make an impact if Barca’s boss Luis Enrqiue calls on him. Rafael Benitze takes charge of his first El Clasico with Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo and James all in the starting lineup.
LINEUPS
Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, James; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale. Subs: Casilla, Pepe, Casemiro, Carvajal, Kovacic, Jese, Isco
Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; S. Roberto, Suarez, Neymar. Subs: Ter Stegen, Messi, Munir, Sandro, Adriano, Vermaelen, Mathieu