Who will start for the league leaders in Madrid?
Top of the league and heading into the lion's den, this weekend is a big one for Luis Enrique.
A treble winner in his first season at the Nou Camp, you'd be forgiven for thinking this management lark was easy.
But the 45-year-old was on the brink last January and knows only too well the situation Rafa Benitez could find himself in should Barca triumph at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
That said, he will be going all out for the three points that could put the title race almost to bed before the advent calendars are up on the Nou Camp walls.
Here is the Real Madrid XI , but who will Luis Enrique pick for this titanic clash?
Ed Malyon takes a look:
Claudio Bravo
The Chilean has missed time through injury but is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper at Barcelona right now.
He will be charged with keeping out Real Madrid’s stellar frontline at the Bernabeu, and is hoping to have a fully healthy defence ahead of him.
Dani Alves
The Brazilian will have to tread a delicate balance between his trademark buccaneering runs down the right-hand side and keeping an eye on Cristiano Ronaldo, who is likely to be restored to his left-sided attacking role.
He is already the overseas (non-Spanish) player to make the most ever appearances in La Liga, and he is a seasoned veteran of clásicos too - with an impressive winning record.
With Aleix Vidal brought in as his potential replacement, Alves will savour what could be one of his last trips to the Bernabeu.
Gerard Pique
If you thought the whistling was bad when Gerard Pique was in a Spain shirt , you wait until he sets foot on the Bernabeu turf in the colours of Barcelona.
For no player in this team is disliked by Madrid fans as much as Gerard Pique , who took the opportunity to mock the fallen Blancos as he and his side celebrated a treble back in June.
This hasn’t been forgotten, and there will be several shrill, ear-piercing reminders of this on Saturday evening.
Javier Mascherano
The Argentine should probably edge out Marc Bartra to start in the Barcelona defence.
He started in midfield for Argentina on Tuesday evening but will likely be preferred in the back four so that Sergio Busquets can continue in his natural position.
It remains a question mark as to who he’ll be directly up against, with Karim Benzema favourite but Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale having recently occupied the centre-forward position.
Jordi Alba
Alba has to tread the tightrope between flying up that left flank unopposed and tracking whoever Rafael Benitez opts to play on that side.
It’s likely to be James Rodriguez or Gareth Bale, neither of whom are players that will traditionally take on Alba down the line - instead looking to cut inside.
Thus, whether Dani Carvajal or Danilo starts at right-back for Madrid is more likely to affect Alba’s day.
Sergio Busquets
The rangy strides of Busquets patrolling the centre of the park have been a rare constant in a season full of injuries for Barcelona.
And the 27-year-old is arguably in the form of his life going into this game.
Luis Enrique recently described him as the “best midfielder in the world” - a claim discussed here - and this is his stage to prove it.
Andres Iniesta
The Barcelona skipper appears to have returned from injury with no ill effects and looks back to his magical self.
Now 31, all that time being Xavi’s understudy have made the years slip by.
Iniesta is a player to savour while he is still around.
Sergi Roberto
The unwanted academy product turned invaluable utility man could start his first clásico.
An able deputy for the injured Dani Alves at right-back earlier this season, he’ll be restored to his favoured role of midfield where he had struggled to have an impact on games until his remarkable two-assist performance at Getafe a few weeks back.
A big occasion for Sergi Roberto to show the world what he is about.
Lionel Messi
Will he or won’t he?
Ever since injuring himself against Las Palmas back in September and having that 7-8 week diagnosis we knew the clásico was going to be touch-and-go for the Argentine.
Having trained since Monday there seems no doubt we will at least see Messi on the field this weekend.
The big decision is whether he starts or comes on from the bench. He did the latter against Atletico Madrid after the birth of his second child and turned the game - a similar plan at the Bernabeu must tempt Luis Enrique.
Sandro and Munir have done nothing in Messi’s absence to inspire confidence, so the urge to start Messi could simply be too great.
Neymar
Extraordinary in Lionel Messi’s absence, the Brazilian has people claiming he could have overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the second-best player in the world.
If he hasn’t already then he is certain too in the future, and the feeling in Catalunya (and Brazil, for that matter) is that one day he’ll replace Messi.
Don’t say that in the earshot of Gareth Bale’s camp, mind.
Luis Suarez
The gunslinger extraordinaire, Suarez has stepped up in Lionel Messi’s absence and scored plenty of important goals for Barcelona.
And this is his stage, against the club he so easily could have signed for.
A battle between him and Pepe would be a nigglefest for the ages.
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