Real Madrid XI: A player-by-player guide to Zinedine Zidane's side for el clásico

It's the biggest football match on the planet, and it's this Saturday.

El clásico pits two of the world's finest, most-successful clubs head-to-head and this weekend's fixture is laden with storylines to unpick and things to watch out for.

But first and foremost it's going to be about the three points on the line and the eleven players on the field as Real Madrid look to extend their lead atop La Liga.

Zinedine Zidane has some tough line-up decisions to make if he's to counter Barcelona's threat, but he has fewer injuries than his counterpart, Luis Enrique. but who will Zizou choose? lets takes a look:

Keylor Navas

The Costa Rican impressed everyone at World Cup 2014, and when he’s been given the opportunity at Real Madrid he has similarly dazzled.

So close to leaving the club on deadline day last summer, Navas was one of Madrid's best players as they won the Champions League under Zinedine Zidane.

He will need to be at his best to keep the Barca frontline at bay.

Dani Carvajal

The Spain full-back has fought off €30million worth of competition, so if he’s fully fit you’d always expect him to edge out Danilo with the Brazilian having experienced an up-and-down first season in La Liga last year.

Carvajal will have a hell of a task in keeping Neymar quiet down that side, as the Barca man has been in sensational form recently.

But he’s locked him down before and this is going to be one of the key battles that decides this game.

Sergio Ramos

The Real Madrid skipper has struggled for form for the last 18 months and has increasingly been exposed by pace, with Mohamed Salah running riot against him in the Champions League knockout stages last season.

He needs to adapt his game to rediscover the form that made him one of the world's best at the position, though nobody can question his will to win.

Expect him to be really up for this game, but whether that will be enough to subdue Messi and co. is another question entirely.

Raphael Varane

The Frenchman has utterly frightening pace for a defender and that will be ideal when faced with a forward line like this.

Pepe's experience will be missed, especially when it comes to dealing with Luis Suarez's off-the-ball provocations.

Marcelo

Prone to leaving space in behind, Marcelo is a player often targeted by top-class opposition.

Roma and Paris Saint-Germain tried as much in the Champions League with some success last year, but despite an injury you’d have to say that the Brazilian remains the club's best option at left-back.

If Nacho were to start there instead then it would send a very negative message, and it would be a shock if Zidane benched Marcelo.

Casemiro

The midfielder has been excellent since breaking into the team as Rafa Benitez's (much-maligned) defensive shield.

Zinedine Zidane kept him in the team after taking over and the Brazilian suddenly became acceptable, so much so that when his long-term injury was announced earlier this season there was serious consternation.

Casemiro has no like-for-like backup in the squad and Madrid have had to improvise to get by without him. His return from injury will be huge.

Luka Modrić

Real Madrid’s metronome and one of their most important players.

The Croat has been sensational over the last two seasons and still doesn't get the plaudits he deserves.

If they're to have a chance of winning this game, it will be because Modric has taken over the midfield.

Mateo Kovacic

Learning from his idol, the young Croatian midfielder looked almost certain to return to Italy on loan after a first season in Spain that saw him get little gametime and make little impact.

Having take advantage of injuries in midfield, Kovacic's energy in the centre of the park has helped to keep Madrid's momentum going even when shorthanded.

Lucas Vazquez

The young Spaniard broke into the team under Rafa Benitez after demonstrating work-rate and defensive awareness on the flank.

While Marco Asensio's rise has threatened Vazquez's playing time, the 25-year-old is a far more reliable performer and will play a key role in tracking Barcelona's full-backs at the Nou Camp.

Hidden beneath all that is that Vazquez is a danger in attack as well.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese lit up this fixture in the spring with a sensational late winner and, if he can repeat that, he could virtually put the league title to bed before Christmas.

That would be quite a way to celebrate his monster new deal.

Karim Benzema

Alvaro Morata has probably outplayed him but Benzema's long-standing chemistry with Ronaldo has saved his spot in the starting XI.

That may not last for too much longer but bagging a vital goal in the clásico is likely to buy him some time.

Missing out

James Rodriguez will likely have to settle for a place on the bench, as will Isco - but with the Spaniard having a chance of starting if Casemiro isn't fit. The defensive back-up is Nacho , while Danilo's inconsistent displays will likely see him benched.

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat trick answered Real Madrid's biggest question

On Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics yet again, as the 31-year-old Portuguese superstar netted a hat trick to lead Real Madrid to a 3-0 victory over rival Athletico 
 Madrid and give Real a clear line of sight to its first La Liga title in half a decade.

Ronaldo’s performance, however, meant far more than the three goals and the three points that put Real Madrid in the driver’s seat for the La Liga crown. Following a salary bump and a hefty contract extension worth a reported $187 million that keeps the forward at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2021, questions have come up over how Ronaldo will fit into the squad going forward considering his decreasing ability to take players one-on-one.

Against Atletico, Real and Ronaldo answered those questions.

Ronaldo started ahead of Karim Benzema at striker and made the most of his chances as the tip of Real’s spear. Similar to the role he played for Portugal in the 2016 European Championships, which Portugal won, Ronaldo continued the transformation from a free-roaming No. 7 darting on the wings and cheating on the inside to a constrained No. 9 causing havoc inside the box and putting pressure on opposing center backs.

For Ronaldo to remain relevant at Real Madrid for five more years, this positional shift became necessary. The former Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon winger could not continue to be an asset out wide as he dove deeper into his 30s. In front of goal, Ronaldo is one of the greatest finishers of all time and a credible threat to score at all times. After all, he is already the top scorer in Real Madrid history, and his scoring rate is higher than the greats that came before him (i.e. Raul Gonzalez, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas).

Of course, questions over how Benzema and Alvaro Morata fit into Real Madrid’s setup if Ronaldo is now a full-time forward will come fast and hard. But one has a tough time arguing against three goals that pushed Madrid nine points clear of Atletico Madrid and four points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Hence, Benzema and Morata will need to adapt to Ronaldo more than the Portuguese will need to adapt to them. Ronaldo remains the biggest star at the club, on the pitch and off it.

With Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Casemiro, Morata and Toni Kroos among the first-team regulars not available for Real Madrid on Saturday, Ronaldo displayed that special winning quality that makes him the first name on the team sheet in the Spanish capital. Though Isco may have deserved Man of the Match honors for his inspired midfield play, Ronaldo secured all three goals.

He has a habit of doing that. It’s football, not rocket science, and Ronaldo knows how to find the back of the net with greater frequency than, arguably, any other human being that has ever lived. And yes, that includes Lionel Messi.

Unlike Messi, who has transitioned deeper into the midfield as he has grown older, Ronaldo has moved further forward with every passing year. It only makes sense that to get the most out of an aging attacker, the emphasis would be to put him in positions where he can apply that expensive final touch, rather than ask him to create chances. Also, Ronaldo’s superior height and heading ability make for a far more natural transition to out-and-out striker than Messi’s passing and vision make sense to move the Argentine deeper into midfield.

Also assisting Ronaldo’s transition is the emergence, arrival and settling of Gareth Bale with Los Blancos. In the past couple seasons, the Welshman has assumed a great deal of Ronaldo’s responsibility on the wings and in the midfield and, frankly, covered for his diminishing ability to run at opponents.

With Bale playing a prominent role a season ago, Real Madrid galloped to a Champions League title and gave Barcelona a proper scare for the league title. In the 2016 Champions League final, Benzema came off the pitch in the second half and Ronaldo proceeded to play as the line-leading forward for the remainder of the game.

As rumors of Bale’s ascendancy balkanizing the locker room grew, the chances of Ronaldo’s sale and move away from Madrid seemed imminent – until Ronaldo signed the monstrous new contract in November. Now, the idea that both superstars can coexist for the foreseeable future is more than an intangible idea; it is a plan with clear blueprints that have not only been drawn out but also tested and approved.

While his shirt may read No. 7 to continue his “CR7” marketing campaigns, Cristiano Ronaldo, for the next five years, will be Real Madrid’s No. 9.

Cristiano Ronaldo's evolution to a no. 9; Real Madrid's priority to adapt new CR7

Cristiano Ronaldo  walked steadily toward the sideline, a 16-year-old standing there waiting to replace him after the fourth official's board had displayed a No. 7. As he approached the touchline, those in the stands of the Santiago Bernabeu rose to their feet, clapping, chanting.

It was a rapturous applause. In the hour prior, Ronaldo's goals had guided Real Madrid through a bizarre period againstGetafe. The hosts had led, 1-0, thanks to the Portuguese's soaring header, but they quickly trailed, 2-1, the ever-lingering self-destructive nature of Real Madrid's defence exaggerated by the lack of sting in the contest. 

A peculiar embarrassment this could have been, but Ronaldo's response was both swift and lethal: two goals in three minutes; the first an exquisite free-kick from 25 yards, the second a well-taken penalty after Carlos Vigaray had brought down Javier Hernandez.

Order restored. 

Another hat-trick it was, Ronaldo's eighth of the season. His eighth. But it had also been more than that—it had been an emphatic signing off to an extraordinary personal season. Sixty-one goals in total, 48 of them in La Liga. Another Pichichi. Another Golden Shoe. His career tally in white now at 313. 

As such, the reception that met Ronaldo upon his exit wasn't your typical one. Fans can get to their feet for almost anyone, but this was different. It was a thank you, the Bernabeu essentially saying: weknow. 

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

It was also a rare opportunity for the Real Madrid faithful. Prior to Saturday, it had been 168 days since the Ballon d'Orwinner had been substituted at home, following a hat-trick against Celta Vigo on December 6. The time before that? Last April. Chances to express a special appreciation for Ronaldo at the Bernabeucome only biannually. 

Yet as the staggeringly prolific forward left the pitch on Saturday evening, there seemed to be a silent, universal question: Is this guy's historic talent being wasted?

Of Ronaldo's 313 goals for Real Madrid, 225 have come in La Liga. More extraordinary is that they've come in just 200 appearances. And yet, somehow, those galactic numbers have translated to just a single league title. 

"Real Madrid have failed Ronaldo," said Graham Hunter, a renowned journalist covering Spanish football, on Sky Sports'Revista de la Liga. Days later, Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff told De Telegraaf, viaGoal: "It's ridiculous that they [Real Madrid] have only won the league once in seven years." In itself, it's troubling. And in relation to Ronaldo, time is running out for Real Madrid to rectify it. 

When he switched the northwest of England for the Spanish capital, the Portuguese was 24, a barnstorming winger with outrageous physical gifts. But in 2015, that's not who he is. Now 30, he's older, wiser. Less spectacular, of course, but more efficient. He's evolved. 

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

In 2014-15, Ronaldo's evolution has seen him play considerably closer to goal. Charges down the left flank have been replaced with subtle movements within the box; long-distance strikes have become close, one-touch finishes; what were once bullet headers are now acts of a softer precision.

In some quarters, a degree of criticism has met the changes—something that's both utterly ridiculous and painfully short-sighted. Ronaldo is different now, yes, but different isn't worse. In fact, in this case, different might even be more effective. It's so easy to forget how difficult scoring is, let alone doing it 61 times. 

Ronaldo is now inescapably a No. 9. The world's finest No. 9, too. But might it be that one of the major factors contributing to an ultimately barren season for Real Madrid has been the club's failure to adapt to that transformation? 

In 2013-14, Real's triumphant 4-3-3 system under Carlo Ancelotti was a sight to behold. Of course, centrally, it was underpinned by Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria. But nonetheless, it was still a system defined by its front three, one of its keys the "bombing on" of Ronaldo andGareth Bale either side of KarimBenzema. 

Ronaldo's evolution this season, however, has drastically affected that dynamic. Closer to goal, away from the wing, Ronaldo no longer "bombs on." He essentially partners Benzema up top, but the system hasn't adapted accordingly. It's remained roughly a 4-3-3—sometimes a hybrid 4-4-2—but one that's become lopsided and slightly dysfunctional. 

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Most of the time, Real Madrid's sheer level of talent has made that redundant. But not in the bigger games. Not against Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Valencia orJuventus. Evidently, the system needs work; the focal point is still the same guy, but that guy has changed. 

As such, Real Madrid are now facing a period in which the team's evolution must match that of Ronaldo. It will be the job of a new manager—Marca reports thatAncelotti's expected departure will soon be confirmed—to craft a system that caters for who the Portuguese is now, rather than for who he once was. The same goes for the club's transfer activity. New faces must be complementary to the new Ronaldo. 

Time is of the essence here, too. For LosBlancos still possess one of football's two most devastating weapons: a pillar that an entire club can be built around but are in danger of letting his phenomenal achievements amount to little collectively. Ronaldo has given Real Madrid everything, but it hasn't exactly been a two-way street.  

Ronaldo, from the player he was when he arrived, from the player he was just last season, has evolved. To fully harness it, Real Madrid will need to do the same.

Messi vs Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo–Lionel Messi rivalry

The Cristiano Ronaldo–Lionel Messi rivalry is a rivalry in association football between two perceived rival players. Ronaldo and Messi are both regarded as being among the all-time great players in the sport, having won a combined six FIFA Ballon d'Or awards. Both players have scored in two UEFA Champions League finals and have regularly broken the 50 goal barrier in a single season. Both have scored over 400 goals in their career for club and country.^[1][2] Sports journalists and pundits regularly argue the individual merits of both players in an attempt to argue who they believe is the best player in modern football.^{[3][4][5][6][7]} It has been compared to legendary global sports rivalriessuch as the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier rivalry in boxing which culminated with the Thrilla in Manila, the Borg–McEnroe rivalry in tennis, and the Ayrton Senna–Alain Prost rivalry in Formula One

Goalscoring awards

European Golden Shoe

The European Golden Shoe is awarded to the top goalscorer in Europe. Since the points system was established in 1996, Ronaldo and Messi are two of only three players, along with Mário Jardel, to score 80 or more points, while Messi is the only player to score 100 points. The Golden Shoe is awarded based on a weighted points system that allows players in tougher leagues to win even if they score fewer goals than a player in a weaker league. Goals scored in the top five leagues       according to the UEFA coefficientsrankings are multiplied by a factor of two, and goals scored in the leagues ranked six to 21 are multiplied by 1.5. Ronaldo and Messi are the only players to win the award three times.

Season	Player	League	Goals	Points
2007–08	Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)	Premier League	31	62
2008–09	Diego Forlán (Atlético Madrid)	La Liga	32	64
2009–10	Lionel Messi (Barcelona)	La Liga	34	68
2010–11	Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)	La Liga	40	80
2011–12	Lionel Messi (Barcelona)	La Liga	50	100
2012–13	Lionel Messi (Barcelona)	La Liga	46	92
2013–14	Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)	La Liga	31	62
	Luis Suárez (Liverpool)	Premier League

Player Statistics

As of end of season 2013–14

Club statistics Cristiano Ronaldo Season League Cup Europe Other Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 2002–03 23 5 3 2 3 0 0 0 31 5 2003–04 29 4 6 2 5 0 0 0 40 6 2004–05 33 5 9 4 8 0 0 0 50 9 2005–06 33 9 6 2 8 1 0 0 47 12 2006–07 34 17 8 3 11 3 0 0 53 23 2007–08 34 31 3 3 11 8 1 0 49 42 2008–09 33 18 6 3 12 4 2 1 53 26 2009–10 29 26 0 0 6 7 0 0 35 33 2010–11 34 40 8 7 12 6 0 0 54 53 2011–12 38 46 5 3 10 10 2 1 55 60 2012–13 34 34 7 7 12 12 2 2 55 55 2013–14 30 31 6 3 11 17 0 0 47 51 Total 386 275 67 39 109 68 7 4 569 375

Club statistics Lionel Messi Season League Cup Europe Other Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 2002–03 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003–04 15 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 5 2004–05 24 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 26 7 2005–06 17 6 2 1 5 1 1 0 25 8 2006–07 26 14 2 2 6 1 2 0 36 17 2007–08 28 10 3 0 9 6 0 0 40 16 2008–09 31 23 8 6 12 9 0 0 51 38 2009–10 35 34 3 1 11 8 4 5 53 47 2010–11 33 31 7 7 13 12 2 3 55 53 2011–12 37 50 7 3 11 14 5 6 60 73 2012–13 32 46 5 4 11 8 2 2 50 60 2013–14 31 28 6 5 7 8 2 0 46 41 Total 309 254 44 29 86 67 18 15 457 365

International statistics[183] Cristiano Ronaldo Season Tournament Qualifiers Friendlies Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 2003–04 6 2 0 0 7 0 13 2 2004–05 0 0 8 7 2 0 10 7 2005–06 6 1 4 0 5 2 15 3 2006–07 0 0 6 5 2 0 8 5 2007–08 3 1 7 3 2 0 12 4 2008–09 0 0 4 0 3 1 7 1 2009–10 4 1 3 0 4 0 11 1 2010–11 0 0 3 2 2 1 5 3 2011–12 5 3 5 5 4 1 14 9 2012–13 0 0 6 1 3 3 9 4 2013–14 3 1 4 7 3 3 10 11 Total 27 9 50 30 37 11 114 50

International statistics[184] Lionel Messi Season Tournament Qualifiers Friendlies Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 2003–04 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004–05 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005–06 3 1 3 0 4 1 10 2 2006–07 6 2 0 0 4 2 10 4 2007–08 0 0 6 2 4 1 10 3 2008–09 0 0 8 2 1 1 9 3 2009–10 5 0 4 0 2 1 11 1 2010–11 4 0 0 0 7 4 11 4 2011–12 0 0 4 2 5 7 9 9 2012–13 0 0 8 5 4 4 12 9 2013–14 7 4 1 2 3 1 11 7 Total 25 7 33 13 34 22 93 42

Hat-tricks and more[edit]

Legend Five Four Cristiano Ronaldo No. Date Competition Home team Away team Score 1 12 January 2008 Premier League Manchester United Newcastle United 6–0[185] 2 5 May 2010 La Liga Mallorca Real Madrid 1–4[186] 3 23 October 2010 La Liga Real Madrid Racing Santander 6–1[187] 4 20 November 2010 La Liga Real Madrid Athletic Bilbao 5–1[85] 5 22 December 2010 Copa del Rey Real Madrid Levante 8–0[188] 6 9 January 2011 La Liga Real Madrid Villarreal 4–2[189] 7 3 March 2011 La Liga Real Madrid Málaga 7–0[190] 8 7 May 2011 La Liga Sevilla Real Madrid 2–6[191] 9 10 May 2011 La Liga Real Madrid Getafe 4–0[192] 10 28 August 2011 La Liga Real Zaragoza Real Madrid 0–6[193] 11 24 September 2011 La Liga Real Madrid Rayo Vallecano 6–2[112] 12 22 October 2011 La Liga Málaga Real Madrid 0–4[194] 13 6 November 2011 La Liga Real Madrid Osasuna 7–0[195] 14 17 December 2011 La Liga Sevilla Real Madrid 2–6[196] 15 12 February 2012 La Liga Real Madrid Levante 4–2[197] 16 11 April 2012 La Liga Atlético Madrid Real Madrid 1–4[198] 17 30 September 2012 La Liga Real Madrid Deportivo La Coruña 5–1[199] 18 3 October 2012 Champions League Ajax Real Madrid 1–4[200] 19 9 January 2013 Copa del Rey Real Madrid Celta Vigo 4–0[201] 20 27 January 2013 La Liga Real Madrid Getafe 4–0[138] 21 9 February 2013 La Liga Real Madrid Sevilla 4–1[202] 22 6 September 2013 World Cup qualification Northern Ireland Portugal 2–4[203] 23 17 September 2013 Champions League Galatasaray Real Madrid 1–6[204] 24 30 October 2013 La Liga Real Madrid Sevilla 7–3[205] 25 9 November 2013 La Liga Real Madrid Real Sociedad 5–1[206] 26 19 November 2013 World Cup qualification Sweden Portugal 2–3[207] 27 20 September 2014 La Liga Deportivo La Coruña Real Madrid 2–8[208] 28 23 September 2014 La Liga Real Madrid Elche 5–1[209] 29 5 October 2014 La Liga Real Madrid Athletic Bilbao 5–0

Lionel Messi
No.	Date	Competition	Home team	Away team	Score
1	10 March 2007	La Liga	Barcelona	Real Madrid	3–3[211]
2	6 January 2009	Copa del Rey	Atlético Madrid	Barcelona	1–3[212]
3	10 January 2010	La Liga	Tenerife	Barcelona	0–5[213]
4	14 March 2010	La Liga	Barcelona	Valencia	3–0[214]
5	21 March 2010	La Liga	Real Zaragoza	Barcelona	2–4[215]
6	6 April 2010	Champions League	Barcelona	Arsenal	4–1[216]
7	21 August 2010	Supercopa de España	Barcelona	Sevilla	4–0[217]
8	20 November 2010	La Liga	Almería	Barcelona	0–8[85]
9	12 January 2011	Copa del Rey	Barcelona	Real Betis	5–0[218]
10	5 February 2011	La Liga	Barcelona	Atlético Madrid	3–0[219]
11	17 September 2011	La Liga	Barcelona	Osasuna	8–0[220]
12	24 September 2011	La Liga	Barcelona	Atlético Madrid	5–0[112]
13	29 October 2011	La Liga	Barcelona	Real Mallorca	5–0[221]
14	1 November 2011	Champions League	Viktoria Plzeň	Barcelona	0–4[222]
15	22 January 2012	La Liga	Málaga	Barcelona	1–4[223]
16	19 February 2012	La Liga	Barcelona	Valencia	5–1[224]
17	29 February 2012	Internationalfriendly	Switzerland	Argentina	1–3[225]
18	7 March 2012	Champions League	Barcelona	Bayer Leverkusen	7–1[226]
19	20 March 2012	La Liga	Barcelona	Granada	5–3[227]
20	2 May 2012	La Liga	Barcelona	Málaga	4–1[228]
21	5 May 2012	La Liga	Barcelona	Espanyol	4–0[229]
22	8 June 2012	Internationalfriendly	Argentina	Brazil	4–3[230]
23	20 October 2012	La Liga	Deportivo La Coruña	Barcelona	4–5[231]
24	27 January 2013	La Liga	Barcelona	Osasuna	5–1[138]
25	14 June 2013	Internationalfriendly	Guatemala	Argentina	4–0[232]
26	1 September 2013	La Liga	Valencia	Barcelona	3–2[233]
27	18 September 2013	Champions League	Barcelona	Ajax	4–0[234]
28	16 March 2014	La Liga	Barcelona	Osasuna	7–0[235]
29	23 March 2014	La Liga	Real Madrid	Barcelona	3–4[236]
30	22 November 2014	La Liga	Barcelona	Sevilla	5–1[237]
31	25 November 2014	Champions League	APOEL	Barcelona	0–4[238]