El Clásico: Spanish Giants Clash As Real Madrid Host Barcelona, Both Teams Come Into the Game

• Real Madrid will host arch-rivals Barcelona in another eagerly anticipated encounter in La Liga's El Clásico
• Barcelona have seen a resurgence in form since the appointment of Xavi as coach and will be looking to pick up a big win
• Real Madrid have beaten Barcelona in the last five encounters between the teams and don't plan on losing that streak today

El Clásico is one of the most eagerly anticipated games in world football and this year’s edition is no different.

What is different is the motivation for both Real Madrid and Barcelona going into the game.

Over the years El Clásico has seen both sides battling for the top spot in La Liga, but Barcelona’s poor start to the season has changed that. Barcelona are 15 points behind the arch-rivals with ten games to go in the season.

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The Blaugrana are on a great run of form and have only dropped six points in their past ten games. Real Madrid on the other hand have dropped seven points in that same timeframe, Barca Universal reported.

What the El Clásico stats say?

In the last five meetings between the two, Real Madrid have won all five encounters. The record for most wins in a row is currently seven, SuperSport.com reported. Real have also reached 100 wins against their rivals during the last meeting between the sides.

In the 248 meetings between the teams, Madrid have won 100 and lost 96. 52 games have been drawn.

Possible squad list for El Clásico

The big news in terms of squad selection for the game is the absence of Karim Benzema. The French international suffered a calf injury and will miss out on the national team’s friendlies as well, Goal.com reported.

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Both teams are yet to announce their starting 11 but have announced the team selected for the game.

Real Madrid:

Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Diego.

Defenders: Carvajal, E. Militão, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Marcelo.

Midfielders: Kroos, Modrić, Casemiro, Valverde, Lucas V., D. Ceballos, Isco, Camavinga.

Forwards: Hazard, Asensio, Jović, Bale, Vini Jr., Rodrygo, Mariano.

Barcelona:

Prediction:

Barcelona are a team on a mission to reclaim their glory days. The Blaugrana have brought in fresh faces and are playing with a renewed vigour. Real Madrid have looked slow to start in some games and lacked the killer instinct in others. Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona.

Injured Benzema to miss Clasico and France friendlies

Real Madrid's top scorer Karim Benzema will miss the Clasico against Barcelona and the upcoming France internationals with a calf injury, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday, Sports Brief earlier reported.

Real enter the weekend 10 points clear at the top of La Liga. They are 15 points ahead of third-place Barcelona, who they host on Sunday evening.

Benzema was included in the France squad announced on Thursday by Didier Deschamps for friendlies against Ivory Coast on March 25 and South Africa on March 29.