Leo Messi will start at the Santiago Bernabeu Saturday, November 21. Although the Argentine striker is already recovered from his knee problems, the player has already told the coach that he prefers to stand on the bench to play in the second half, with the doubts about the physical condition. It is a position which will be exploited by Luis Enrique to prolong the good condition of the duo of Neymar and Suarez.

On the board, according to the news conducted by the Cadena Cope, Luis Enrique will not have to change the scheme used in recent games. The 4-4-2 has given the team not only greater defensive stability, but also a higher ball possession.

In this sense the double pivot will be the key. Busquets will be a fixed and at his side Mascherano could play, with Sergi Roberto on the right and Iniesta on the left.

If finally Rakitic were ready to play (something that seems more complicated), the Croatian could start on the right, Sergi Roberto displacing the center of midfield, with Iniesta always on the left. Mascherano, in such a case, would play in defence along with Pique, Alves and Alba.

Messi will be inserted in the second half. The “10” will be one the pitch with two possible siuations. The first one is to make things better if the game gets difficulty. He is a guarantee of success every time against Real Madrid. And something similar has already happened and indeed changed the match to give victory to the Catalans. The other situation is that the score is already in favor of the team, and he has the ultimate goal sealed with his gallops.

Thanks in part to the good form of Suarez and Neymar, the options and alternatives can give some assurance to Barcelona. The performance of both is so great that there is no fear against the eternal enemy without Messi in the team.