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Barcelona vs Real Madrid – El Clasico combined XI

By Harry De Cosemo

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) vies with Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the Spanish league 'Clasico' football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014. Barcelona won 4-3. AFP PHOTO/ GERARD JULIEN (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) vies with Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the Spanish league 'Clasico' football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014. Barcelona won 4-3. AFP PHOTO/ GERARD JULIEN (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images) /
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Luis Enrique, Manager of FC Barcelona gives instructions to his player Sergio Busquets during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Malaga CF at Camp Nou stadium on November 19, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Luis Enrique, Manager of FC Barcelona gives instructions to his player Sergio Busquets during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Malaga CF at Camp Nou stadium on November 19, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /

Defensive Midfield – Sergio Busquets, Barcelona

The man who has redefined this position over the past seven years, Sergio Busquets, is the new main man of the Spanish national team.

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For years, the holding midfield role was named after Claude Makelele, the former Real Madrid man who became known for his ability to do the dirty work and maintain a very attacking team’s defensive balance.

Busquets, now 28, has done that with the added ability to pick a key pass and maintain Barcelona (and Spain’s) possession dominance in every game he plays. His feet are nimble, but his physique makes him a tough player for anyone to get past.

With the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso moving past their best and even into retirement, Busquets is becoming a bigger player for Julen Lopetegui’s Spain.

His incredible spacial awareness and passing range makes him the perfect ‘quarter back’ for this team.

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