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El Clásico: Real Madrid and Barcelona combined starting XI

By Roy Emanuel

MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 16: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid CF scores their second goal during the Supercopa de Espana Final 2nd Leg match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 16, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 16: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid CF scores their second goal during the Supercopa de Espana Final 2nd Leg match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 16, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /
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MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 06: Zinedine Zidane, Manager of Real Madrid looks on during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 6, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 06: Zinedine Zidane, Manager of Real Madrid looks on during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 6, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /

The greatest rivalry in sports writes a new chapter.

One of the football world’s greatest spectacles is set for this weekend at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, when Real Madrid host eternal rivals Barcelona on Saturday afternoon. It will be the first league meeting between the two sides this season, and will hold a vital importance to La Liga’s title race.

The title-holders enter in an unfamiliar fourth-place position, but will be confident after a second consecutive triumph in the FIFA Club World Cup. First-place Barca are currently enjoying an 11-point lead on Madrid.

These matches garner attention from all corners of the globe, as many of the sport’s top players will be on the pitch.

https://twitter.com/LaLigaEN/status/941918325784711174

Real certainly have much work to do in hopes of closing the gap on Barcelona, and Saturday’s match will only be the start of a difficult journey. The Blaugrana have looked strong this term, and manager Ernesto Valverde is getting incredible contributions from the mercurial Lionel Messi.

With an epic occasion on the way in only a matter of days, Playing For 90 takes a look at what a combined starting XI would look like from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

GK – Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Barcelona

Now, if this question was posed during the pre-season, I am sure that I would have been laughed at for this choice. Los Blancos shot-stopper Keylor Navas is supremely talented, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been enjoying outstanding form for Barcelona.

Now in his fourth campaign at the Camp Nou, the 25-year-old has matured into a reliable goalkeeper for Valverde’s squad.

He is tied with Atlético Madrid’s Jan Oblak with ten clean sheets in 2017-18, and has made a multitude of tremendous saves. Ter Stegen’s performance in a 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in October was nothing short of magical, as the home side simply could not beat him.

Barcelona will have their hands full stifling the Real Madrid attack. However, Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s presence at the back may be what makes the difference on Saturday.

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