Real Madrid and Barcelona play the first Clasico in 11 years without Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo this weekend.
Barcelona are at the top La Liga despite going four league matches without a win before last Saturday, while Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui is under pressure with his side in seventh place.
Sportsmail asks 10 key questions ahead of Sunday's showdown at the Nou Camp.
For over a decade it's been Messi vs Ronaldo? Is this one going to be worth it without them?
This is Julen Lopetegui’s first Clasico as Real Madrid coach, and if he loses, it will probably be his last. That enough spice for you?
Messi and Ronaldo will be missed but the possibility of it being the game that decides Lopetegui’s future will mean it could be one of the liveliest for years.
What will be the key duel?
Sergio Ramos against Luis Suarez is the pick of the match-ups. Suarez has only scored four this season but he has six assists, and that doesn’t include those two no-touch assists against Spurs when his dummies helped Messi score twice.
Ramos wants to save Lopetegui’s job, he’s the one who recommended him to the club after all. But it can be hard to lead the team from the back. Dive in to tackles or charge forward and rather than be the inspiring captain marvel you could end up as the liability. Suarez will look to win fouls, Ramos will oblige him – these two make perfect arch-enemies.
If it comes down to keepers who is in the best shape?
Marc Andre ter Stegen has been in exceptional form saving his team against Sevilla and Real Sociedad earlier in the season.
Thibaut Courtois is yet to put in a really big performance although he was decent in the Madrid derby.
Who will be Messi for a day for Barca?
Rafinha took Messi’s place in the team on Wednesday against Inter but there are no guarantees he will start at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona had hoped Philippe Coutinho would step-up but he was one of the team’s lesser lights against Inter. Perhaps it will be a midfield virtuoso performance from Arthur that does it. Messi will say ‘I told you so,’ he praised the Brazilian midfielder in an interview last month.
Who will be Ronaldo for a day for Real Madrid?
Bale scored a beauty at the Nou Camp last season and he’s due another goal. He has all of Ronaldo’s attributes but lacks his consistency.
If he can turn it on on Sunday then Madrid will have a far better chance.
How are Barcelona likely to line up?
In his four meetings with Real Madrid Valverde has played 4-4-2 in three of them.
The option of four midfielders behind Messi and Suarez is affected by the absence of Messi but it could be that Coutinho plays closest to Suarez and Sergi Roberto joins Sergio Busquets, Arthur and Ivan Rakitic in midfield.
How are Madrid likely to line up?
There is no Dani Carvajal so Nacho will probably come in at right-back. Marcelo looks like being fit to play left back with Ramos partnering Raphael Varane.
It will then be Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in midfield with Casemiro and Isco and Marco Asensio fighting for the place alongside Karim Benzema and Bale.
What would a win mean for Barca?
They would be seven points clear of Madrid leaving their rivals floundering in mid-table and probably looking for a new coach.
What would a win mean for Real Madrid?
They would close the gap to one point and Lopetegui would get some deserved breathing space to start building his Real Madrid.
Who will win?
An ill-tempered draw wouldn’t surprise. A draw because Messi’s absence brings Barca’s level down to a below-par Madrid’s and ill-tempered because there is so much at stake for Madrid.
Last season Sergi Roberto and Dani Carvajal were somewhat unlikely sendings off. This season it could be the usual suspects getting involved. Ramos, Suarez, Arturo Vidal if he plays a part.
zusacpty
344
El Clasico without Ronaldo and Messi will not make you sit on edge as if you are watching a horror movie you won't know what is coming next . With the 2 main players in El Clasico you never know when there will be a goal that's the excitement. Now with the 2 main characters absent it only comes to rivalry between the 2 teams nothing more
chimeka10
336
i just wonder
xforce
262
It's the El Clasico not El Messinaldo. So it will be worth watching cos we'll know for sure what the two teams are made of as they are without the two legendary figures.
Nesaiknruy
244
If you watched it for 2 players then you've only been a fan of football since 2009. To say it's based on only 2 players is insulting to a rivalry that's like 100 years old.... How can some of you even claim to be fans of these 2 teams if you don't even respect the club's more than the players. I support neither but still if we lose Hazard for example, I'd never lose my love for the club or our matches against our rivals....
iam_G
222
i think it will worth much more than before coz each team has to fight so that only one can be strong without messinaldo and therefore i guess each player will fight to show how their worth to their team without messinaldo on the pitch i give it a name #LetTheDevilOut
Rohingya94
144
This match for Barcelona
Ankush61
142
It all depends.. Though there is no Messi or CR7 it is still an important game. A clasico is a clasico just like how it was before the two GOATs came in. However the intesity has been reduced but it also depend on how the two clubs play. I m preety sure both teams will play theri level best and put up an entertaining peformence. #FORÇA BARÇA
Nesaiknruy
69
read my comment it says these 2 great players give El clasico the edge over other games . Yes there were good players prior to Ronaldo and Messi but it did not have that special feeling it was only two rival teams playing against each other
It's not your fault man, n you most likely never got to see the legends go at it in an El Classico...
Nesaiknruy
53
El Clasico without Ronaldo and Messi will not make you sit on edge as if you are watching a horror movie you won't know what is coming next . With the 2 main players in El Clasico you never know when there will be a goal that's the excitement. Now with the 2 main characters absent it only comes to rivalry between the 2 teams nothing more
Disagree wholeheartedly and your an example of what's wrong with the current millenial fanbase. El Classico is bigger than any single player. Long before Messi and Ronaldo were born, this match lit fires in the hearts of passionate fans who went to see their teams go at it. If you put a player above the club then you're only symbolizing what's wrong with football fans....