Real Madrid vs Barcelona - Combined El Clasico XI

#4 Forwards

Cristiano Ronaldo

What would Real Madrid do without this man? 15 goals in 7 games: that’s some stat. But even the stat doesn’t tell the full story. Cristiano Ronaldo has been simply phenomenal in the first couple of months of this season, even for his own standards (and that’s saying something!). Every single match he has played has seen him score. Here’s another stat: Three hat-tricks in four games. There are many more such figures that can be used to explain his contribution to the Real cause but then all those stats will be obliterated by the same man himself once he plays another game. What a goal machine.

Lionel Messi

New manager, new tactics, new position: no problem. Lionel Messi is consistently showing everyone around him that there’s no stopping him. Play him anywhere on the pitch, it doesn’t matter – that’s the message he’s giving out. Now playing from a slightly deeper role, La Pulga too has superb statistical backing to show his contributions. If Ronaldo has goals, Messi has goals and assists. His stats read: 8 matches, 7 goals and 7 assists. All these point to one thing: Telmo Zarra’s all-time La Liga scoring record may well be broken on Saturday night.

Now imagine Luis Suarez playing up front with him. Ah, bliss.