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Players to watch in Saturday’s anticipated El Clasico matchup

By Moussa Traore

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 22: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid look on during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou on March 22, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 22: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid look on during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou on March 22, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images) /
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Needs a big game to win over the supporters
Needs a big game to win over the supporters /

Karim Benzema was booed after Real Madrid’s hard-fought 2-1 victory against Sporting Gijon on Saturday. His slow start to the season has the Bernabeu faithful growing restless, but Zinedine Zidane remains confident his striker will turn it around.

“You have to pass these tests, everyone has to do it, but he [Benzema] has to endure it more,” Zidane said.

“It [the pressure and criticism] is there day-to-day, and though I don’t know how many years or goals he has [accumulated] in Madrid, he definitely knows.”

Although Benzema has a terrific goal scoring record with Los Blancos, Madrid supporters are the most demanding fans in the world. Stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Isco have all endured the Bernabeu whistle.

The Frenchman will lead the attack on Saturday as Bale and Morata continues to be sidelined with injuries, will the lackadaisical Benzema show up or the player that played well in Zidane’s 2-1 Clasico debut victory?

The 28-year-old will be eager to shut the critiques up, and what better way to do it than the whole world watching? Benzema will certainly get chances against the exhausted Barcelona back-line who’s dealing with injury blows.

Benzema has scored 8 goals in 24 meetings against Barcelona, but has not been guaranteed a place in Zidane’s starting Xl with only six goals and two assists in 16 games this season.

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