El Clasico: Picking a Combined XI From Barcelona & Real Madrid

Last weekend was the first time since September 2018 that both Barcelona and Real Madrid lost in the same round of fixtures. La Liga is back in business!

Saturday promises to bring one of the most frantic, desperate and chaotic derbies we've seen for a while, as Spanish football's giants go head to head looking to add to their dried out momentum reserves and claim the early initiative in the title race, amid a sea of off-field issues and distractions.

As is customary every time El Clasico comes around, we've picked the best XI (on form, before you start) from both squads. Let's dive in!

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Pique is as important as ever to Barcelona / Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Thibaut Courtois - Real Madrid (GK) - With both first-choice keepers at their best, there is nothing to separate Courtois from his Barcelona counterpart. Fortunately enough, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is injured, which makes our job here a lot easier. Three clean sheets in five matches for the Belgian have signalled a defensively steady start to the season (Champions League form aside).

Sergi Roberto - Barcelona (RB) - We'll be debating Roberto's best position right up until the day he retires and we forget he existed altogether, but for now, he's the best right-back at either club. Again, an injury to Dani Carvajal means there isn't much competition, until Sergiño Dest takes over as first choice at Camp Nou anyway.

Gerard Pique - Barcelona (CB) - The year is 2035 and Gerard Pique starts his 200th successive Clasico.

Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid (CB) - The year is 2035 and Sergio Ramos starts his 300th successive Clasico.

Ferland Mendy - Real Madrid (LB) - We've seen a lot of the old guard so far but Mendy offers a glance into the future. The 25-year-old has had an up and down time of it so far but now looks as if he might be the long-term solution to the Marcelo conundrum and his defensive acumen will be key at Camp Nou.

2. Midfielders

Casemiro holds the Real Madrid midfield together / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Frenkie de Jong - Barcelona (CM) - De Jong looks increasingly like the needle in the haystack of Barcelona's bad decisions. They don't get much right in the transfer market these days, but as the Dutch midfielder creeps towards 50 appearances, it looks as if they've hit the target.

Casemiro - Real Madrid (CM) - Other than Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo, no player has been more integral to Real Madrid's modern era than Casemiro. He keeps things pinned together in the middle of the park, and if they are to retain their title this season then he'll need to be at his best.

Philippe Coutinho - Barcelona (CM) - With a little help from Ronald Koeman, Coutinho has suddenly remembered how to play football really well. Wonders never cease.

3. Forwards

The present and future of Barcelona have a nice little hug / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Lionel Messi - Barcelona (RW) - The year is 2035 and Messi starts his 400th successive Clásico.

Karim Benzema - Real Madrid (CF) - After being one of the standout stars of last season, it's been a slow start to 2020/21 for Benzema, who has netted just once in six appearances. He's yet to really get started, and hasn't scored in his last eight league appearances vs Barca. Cue hat-trick.

Ansu Fati - Barcelona (LW) - The golden boy. The face of a new generation. He who can do no wrong. Fati has more goal-involvements (6) than he has appearances this season (5), and is all set for his first Clasico this weekend. Tasty.