Messi and De Jong are playing with fire

Barcelona have arrived at the crucial moment of the season in fine form with the opportunity to secure a domestic double in LaLiga Santander and the Copa del Rey, but to do so they need their key players available.

With the Clasico only three matches away, two of Ronald Koeman's crucial men are only one yellow card away from suspension.

Frenkie de Jong and Lionel Messi are both currently on four yellow cards, one away from a one match suspension, but have been at the heart of the creation and scoring of goals.

On Sunday, Barcelona face Real Sociedad and after the international break they will face Real Valladolid.

If either avoids a yellow card in San Sebastian but is then booked in the home fixture against Real Valladolid, they would miss the Clasico.

In a tie which no player would ever want to miss, that has never been the case more than all that is to play for in LaLiga Santander.

Two big players

De Jong has played more minutes than any other player in the five big leagues with 3,516 minutes to date, while Messi isn't far behind on 3,201.

Koeman knows the importance of both to his system, especially in the case of the LaLiga Santander Pichichi, Messi.