El Clasico, Barcelona Vs. Real Madrid: Barca’s Starting Lineup Revealed

We’ve been waiting for a reliable source to starting confirming starting XIs for today’s Clasico, and while we still await word on Real Madrid’s lineup, Barcelona’s has been revealed. That’s if you consider FourFourTwo a reliable source.

No real surprises as much as answers. Throughout the season we’ve wondered whether Javier Mascherano, signed from Liverpool at the season’s onset, would take over Sergio Busquets’ role. Today was the first test of Pep Guardiola’s depth chart, and the Spanish international remains entrenched. It’s little surprise that Busquets is starting, being somebody Guardiola has personally seen through the Barça system. Now it’s a question of whether Mascherano will ever unseat Busquets.

Other things to now: It appears Alves will start at his normal right back position, noteworthy only because he started at right wing the last time these two teams met. Eric Abidal returns to the team, starting a left back. But more interesting and of greater joy to us: No injury concerns for Barcelona.

The same can not be said for Real Madrid. While nicked players Gonzalo Higuain, Sami Khedira and Ricardo Carvalho were thought probable for today’s match, latest rumors are Higuain is out. Karim Benzema is expected to start as Madrid’s number nine.