Bale fit for big Barca clash

Rafa Benitez shrugged off suggestions of dressing room discontent and insisted Real Madrid are “extra-motivated” ahead of Saturday’s Clasico meeting with Barcelona. The treble winners make a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu for one of the biggest clashes in the La Liga on 21 November.

Barca have been without Lionel Messi with a knee problem since September, but their Argentine talisman looks increasingly likely to be passed fit, as does Ivan Rakitic (calf).

“Messi can change the game and he’s done incredible things in previous Clasicos, ” said Suarez. We are relaxed, more as we know we are playing consistently well, than because of the advantage in the table. “People remember him just as well because he is the best player in the world”, said Suarez after a recent victory over Getafe.

Ronaldo is under contract until 2018, but his own cryptic comments over his future have done little to dampen speculation that has linked him with former club Manchester United and big-spending Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain. That’s not really El Haddadi’s fault either.

Ronaldo’s response came as a surprise as there were Rumors that Mourinho was axed from Real Madrid because he fell out with the Portuguese superstar.

It may be hard to compare players of different eras, and only since the arrival of Johan Cruyff as coach in the late 1980s with his revolutionary style of play have Barca regularly fielded three forwards, but the present trio stand out. The lone exception came when Ronaldo did not take the pitch in the 2014 Copa del Rey final where Gareth Bale pulled off the greatest sprinting goal in the history of the rivalry.

To counter Neymar and Suarez, Madrid will surely rely on Navas and also the brilliance of Raphael Varane, who to me is one of the best centre-backs in world football right now.

92 – Real have beaten Barca 92 times in official matches, with 90 wins for Barca and 48 draws.

“The entire world will be watching and we are hopeful that he can play”.

29 – The combined total of “Clasico” appearances made by Luis Enrique for Real (1991-96) and Barca (1996-2004). Th ey have kept a clean sheet in their last four games in all competitions and scored eight goals in the process.

FIGHTING FOR THE LEAD: Barcelona has a three-point lead over Real Madrid going into the match, but a loss will drop the Catalan club to second in the standings on goal difference.

And his manager Benitez says he will be ready for the match against Barcelona at the Bernabeu.

– If Messi scores in this game, he would become El Clasico top scorer in La Liga (he now has 14 goals, level with Di Stefano).