The covers of yesterday's newspapers in Barcelona has images which Real Madrid fans would rather not see.
“Return of the Tridente,” Sport stated, with images of Neymar, Luis Suarez and, crucially, Lionel Messi celebrating after scoring.
“Lio will pass the final test today and speak to [Barcelona manager] Luis Enrique after,” it went on, putting the outcome in more doubt.
After injury hit seasons so far, both Barcelona and Madrid have enjoyed seeing their best players return. Barcelona’s front three have not played together since September 26 when Messi hobbled out of a league game against Las Palmas with a knee injury.
As Suarez found when he started his first Barcelona game in the clasico last term, it will be hard for Messi if he features. But if any player can come back and make an impact, it is the world’s best.
After an initial wobble and defeat in Seville that saw Barcelona drop to fourth, they have improved without Messi, with Neymar and Suarez combining together in a team which has won seven games in succession.
“Barcelona have reached a spectacular level without Messi,” Xavi, a former Barcelona midfielder now at Qatari side Al Sadd, told this reporter recently.
“[Sergio] Busquets is incredible, Sergi Roberto is hugely confident, [Andres] Iniesta has returned to a high level, Suarez and Neymar are incredible. In defence also, there has been an improvement. [Javier] Mascherano is very good, [Thomas] Vermaelen is good, Dani Alves, too, and Jordi Alba.
“They have an intensity in defence, they press high, they give no time for the other team to think. Barcelona will win trophies again this season, I’m confident of that. I have a good feeling about them.”
Barcelona fans were preparing for a first clasico since 2007 without Messi.
Along with compatriot Alfredo di Stefano, the Argentine is the joint leading scorer in the game with 14 goals (from 18 games, Di Stefano played 20), so this week’s news of him playing was encouraging, though it could be a bluff to spook Madrid.
Luis Enrique says he will decide one hour before the game.
Regardless, Barcelona can look to several other in-form players.
Midfielder Iniesta, whose last league goal was in the Bernabeu in March 2014, is back from injury and playing well. He spoke on Thursday of the “good sensations” of training with Messi.
The Catalan media have played their role in the public relations exercise, emphasising that Barcelona are set to have six home-grown talents in their starting XI against only defender Dani Carvajal and midfielder Casemiro in the likely Madrid XI.
It would be more if midfielder Rafinha was not injured or winger Aleix Vidal was allowed to play.
It will be the first clasico since 1999 that has not featured either Xavi or Iker Casillas. The midfielder won 29 trophies with Barcelona and played in 43 clasicos, the Madrileno 19 trophies. That leaves captain Sergio Ramos and Iniesta as the most experienced players for either team.
With criticism of manager Rafa Benitez only four months into the Madrid job, the pressure is on the home team to win.
Barcelona, with a three-point cushion, are more comfortable and in Luis Enrique, they also have a manager who has played and managed in a clasico before. Having also played for Madrid, Luis Enrique knows exactly what the game means.
He still lists his best goal as one he scored for the Catalans in the Bernabeu. “Without a doubt, the goal in the 3-2 victory in the Bernabeu,” he told this reporter.
“I scored second to make it 2-1. Madrid had a great team: [Predrag] Mijatovi, [Davor] Suker, Roberto Carlos.
“My celebration was passionate and effusive. My teammates jumped on top of me. The crowd were throwing things at me.”
Madrid always have great players. Barcelona, too.
The current cohort have shown their strength by performing well even without Messi. They are already the best team in the world. Beating Madrid away with or without him would be a huge blow to their greatest foes.
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