Winchester
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In a continuation of their absurd and hysterical arms race, Real Madrid and Barcelona both bought some of the biggest attacking stars in world football this summer. But because we've already had the pleasure of watching quite a bit of James Rodriguez in a white shirt, the spotlight in this edition of El Clásico is on one man in blaugrana: Luis Suarez.
Through pure coincidence, FIFA decided that this was the first game Suarez would be eligible for upon the expiration of his suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. He's played friendlies for Barcelona, but this will be the first time that fans will get to see him take the pitch for the team in a competitive match, and that match just happens to be the most glamorous and closely-followed rivalry match in the world.
Meanwhile, though Suarez is dominating the storylines, there's a lot to like about the Madrid and Barcelona players who have actually played this season. Despite some early domestic slip-ups, Los Merengues are doing well in the league, and they're coming off a dominant 3-0 win away to Liverpool in the Champions League. Barca aren't doing quite as well in that competition -- they lost to Paris Saint-Germain on the second matchday -- but they're atop La Liga at the moment. And even if Madrid win on Saturday, they'll stay a point ahead of their rivals.
Entering this match, Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the most in-form player in the world, with an absurd 20 goals from 13 matches to this point. No one on Barcelona can match that tally, but Lionel Messi and Neymar are striking up an excellent partnership. Messi has nine goals, Neymar has 10, and they're assisting each other regularly.
With these teams being so evenly matched, Saturday's Clásico might come down to how well each team accounts for its big absence. Can James Rodriguez and Isco make up for the absence of Gareth Bale? Will Barcelona hold up defensively without Sergio Busquets? Luis Enrique and Carlo Ancelotti will be tested without these key players.
Team news
Bale isn't confirmed as out for sure, but no one expects him to play in this match. The only other player that Madrid are without is Jesé Rodriguez, who continues to work his way back to full fitness after a serious knee injury. Sergio Ramos had a knock that kept him out midweek, but he should start this match. Sami Khedira has finally returned, but should start this game on the bench.
Barcelona are sweating the fitness of Busquets, who, like Bale, isn't 100 percent out but isn't expected to start. Backup defenders Thomas Vermaelen, Douglas and Adriano are struggling to get healthy as well, so Barcelona are extremely thin at the back, even if they can field a starting XI that looks just fine.
Projected lineups
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Iker Casillas; Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Dani Carvajal; Isco,Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez; Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema
Barcelona (4-3-3): Claudio Bravo; Jordi Alba, Jeremy Mathieu, Gerard Pique, Dani Alves; Javier Mascherano, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta; Neymar, Lionel Messi, Pedro Rodriguez
Suarez could make a start in the first game he's eligible for, but since he's yet to play in a match, it's hard to pick him to start. Because Busquets is hurt, Javier Mascherano will move up the pitch in his absence. Both teams have goalkeeper dilemmas, but it's tough to pick against the two who have been first choice in the league this season.
Key questions
How to replace Sergio Busquets? - It's possible that Barcelona go without a true defensive midfielder or throw Sergi Samper into the fire, but more likely than not, Mascherano will move up from defense to his natural position. This leaves Enrique with a difficult selection dilemma at center back. Gerard Pique is in terrible form, Marc Bartra lacks big game experience and Thomas Vermaelen is apparently not yet fit to start. Enrique doesn't have any great options in the center of his defense.
Does a 4-4-2 suit Madrid? - This is where having no actual midfielders comes back to haunt Madrid. While Toni Kroos has adapted nicely to a more defensive role, sticking him in a two-man center with Luka Modric against Barcelona seems suicidal, even if Isco and James are extremely narrow wingers. A 4-4-2 without any defensive midfielders seems like a great way to get carved up by Barca.
Will Luis Suarez play any part? - He should be listed on the bench, at least, but it's quite possible that Suarez starts. It's equally possible that he's not considered fit enough to do more than make a late cameo appearance. And if he does play significant minutes, does he have any chemistry with his teammates? No matter what he does or doesn't do, a lot of the post-match talk is going to center around Suarez.
Prediction
At their best, Madrid have looked unstoppable at this season. And at their worst, they've looked like a team that can be easily carved up by average sides. Their attacking talent (and Barcelona's questionable defense) leaves open the possibility that they could score six goals in this game, but between their flimsy midfield and the terrible form of Iker Casillas, Barcelona have to be considered slight favorites. 2-1, Barcelona
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, 2014 El Clásico preview: Accounting for key absences - SBNation.com
Through pure coincidence, FIFA decided that this was the first game Suarez would be eligible for upon the expiration of his suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. He's played friendlies for Barcelona, but this will be the first time that fans will get to see him take the pitch for the team in a competitive match, and that match just happens to be the most glamorous and closely-followed rivalry match in the world.
Meanwhile, though Suarez is dominating the storylines, there's a lot to like about the Madrid and Barcelona players who have actually played this season. Despite some early domestic slip-ups, Los Merengues are doing well in the league, and they're coming off a dominant 3-0 win away to Liverpool in the Champions League. Barca aren't doing quite as well in that competition -- they lost to Paris Saint-Germain on the second matchday -- but they're atop La Liga at the moment. And even if Madrid win on Saturday, they'll stay a point ahead of their rivals.
Entering this match, Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the most in-form player in the world, with an absurd 20 goals from 13 matches to this point. No one on Barcelona can match that tally, but Lionel Messi and Neymar are striking up an excellent partnership. Messi has nine goals, Neymar has 10, and they're assisting each other regularly.
With these teams being so evenly matched, Saturday's Clásico might come down to how well each team accounts for its big absence. Can James Rodriguez and Isco make up for the absence of Gareth Bale? Will Barcelona hold up defensively without Sergio Busquets? Luis Enrique and Carlo Ancelotti will be tested without these key players.
Team news
Bale isn't confirmed as out for sure, but no one expects him to play in this match. The only other player that Madrid are without is Jesé Rodriguez, who continues to work his way back to full fitness after a serious knee injury. Sergio Ramos had a knock that kept him out midweek, but he should start this match. Sami Khedira has finally returned, but should start this game on the bench.
Barcelona are sweating the fitness of Busquets, who, like Bale, isn't 100 percent out but isn't expected to start. Backup defenders Thomas Vermaelen, Douglas and Adriano are struggling to get healthy as well, so Barcelona are extremely thin at the back, even if they can field a starting XI that looks just fine.
Projected lineups
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Iker Casillas; Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Dani Carvajal; Isco,Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez; Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema
Barcelona (4-3-3): Claudio Bravo; Jordi Alba, Jeremy Mathieu, Gerard Pique, Dani Alves; Javier Mascherano, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta; Neymar, Lionel Messi, Pedro Rodriguez
Suarez could make a start in the first game he's eligible for, but since he's yet to play in a match, it's hard to pick him to start. Because Busquets is hurt, Javier Mascherano will move up the pitch in his absence. Both teams have goalkeeper dilemmas, but it's tough to pick against the two who have been first choice in the league this season.
Key questions
How to replace Sergio Busquets? - It's possible that Barcelona go without a true defensive midfielder or throw Sergi Samper into the fire, but more likely than not, Mascherano will move up from defense to his natural position. This leaves Enrique with a difficult selection dilemma at center back. Gerard Pique is in terrible form, Marc Bartra lacks big game experience and Thomas Vermaelen is apparently not yet fit to start. Enrique doesn't have any great options in the center of his defense.
Does a 4-4-2 suit Madrid? - This is where having no actual midfielders comes back to haunt Madrid. While Toni Kroos has adapted nicely to a more defensive role, sticking him in a two-man center with Luka Modric against Barcelona seems suicidal, even if Isco and James are extremely narrow wingers. A 4-4-2 without any defensive midfielders seems like a great way to get carved up by Barca.
Will Luis Suarez play any part? - He should be listed on the bench, at least, but it's quite possible that Suarez starts. It's equally possible that he's not considered fit enough to do more than make a late cameo appearance. And if he does play significant minutes, does he have any chemistry with his teammates? No matter what he does or doesn't do, a lot of the post-match talk is going to center around Suarez.
Prediction
At their best, Madrid have looked unstoppable at this season. And at their worst, they've looked like a team that can be easily carved up by average sides. Their attacking talent (and Barcelona's questionable defense) leaves open the possibility that they could score six goals in this game, but between their flimsy midfield and the terrible form of Iker Casillas, Barcelona have to be considered slight favorites. 2-1, Barcelona
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, 2014 El Clásico preview: Accounting for key absences - SBNation.com
