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5 reasons why Barcelona will win El Clasico

By Harry De Cosemo

Barcelona's players celebrate their 24th La Liga title at the end of the Spanish league football match Granada CF vs FC Barcelona at Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium in Granada on May 14, 2016.Barcelona sealed their 24th La Liga title as Luis Suarez took his tally for the season to 59 goals with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win at Granada to hold off Real Madrid's late-season surge. / AFP / CRISTINA QUICLER (Photo credit should read CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona's players celebrate their 24th La Liga title at the end of the Spanish league football match Granada CF vs FC Barcelona at Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium in Granada on May 14, 2016.Barcelona sealed their 24th La Liga title as Luis Suarez took his tally for the season to 59 goals with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win at Granada to hold off Real Madrid's late-season surge. / AFP / CRISTINA QUICLER (Photo credit should read CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images) /
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 19: Andres Iniesta of FC Barcelona plays the ball during the UEFA Champions League group C match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City FC at Camp Nou on October 19, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 19: Andres Iniesta of FC Barcelona plays the ball during the UEFA Champions League group C match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City FC at Camp Nou on October 19, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /

4. Andres Iniesta’s return from injury

As mentioned in the piece depicting why Barcelona will win the Champions League, Iniesta can be decisive and his timely return to fitness is a huge momentum swinger.

Injured in a win at Valencia earlier this term, it cannot be a coincidence that the side ave struggled without him. Now 32, the Spain legend is more than a playmaker in the team, he is club captain, a leader and one of the men everyone looks to.

Whether he starts or is on the bench remains to be seen, but that is a decision that could almost majorly impact the outcome of this encounter. It is important for Barcelona that they dictate the pace of the game from minute one, their main error against Real Sociedad last week, and obviously Iniesta would enhance their chances of doing that.

Arda Turan is another option for Luis Enrique, who will not want to ask too much of his captain so soon. The Turk has been struggling with illness recently but should recover and be part of the squad. Andre Gomes, the other major possibility in this position, must step up if he is to have any real impact on proceedings.

Up until last season, when Real won at the Camp Nou, Iniesta, Busquets and Ivan Rakitic were unbeaten in every game they played. That trio could help reinvigorate the campaign, starting Saturday.

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