The biggest returning star has been left on the bench for the first Clásico of the season between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Lionel Messi has been deemed fit enough to make the squad, but will not start, but Karim Benzema starts for Los Merengues.
El Clásico 2015 lineups: Lionel Messi on the bench Karim Benzema starts
Lionel Messi isn’t fit enough to start, but Karim Benzema is.
Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Somewhat surprisingly, Casemiro has not been handed a start by Madrid. He’s been first choice for Rafa Benitez for the last couple of months, and picking a pure holder for a big game would have been a classic Rafa decision. However, he’s opted for Toni Kroos as his most defensive midfielder. He’s picked an attacking lineup, with James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale both in instead of the Brazilian.
Barca’s formation could be any number of things, but you’ll probably see their midfield take a diamond shape, as opposed to Andres Iniesta playing as a winger.
Real Madrid lineup (4-3-3): Keylor Navas; Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Danilo; Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez; Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale
Barcelona lineup (4-4-2 diamond): Claudio Bravo; Jordi Alba, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Dani Alves; Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Sergi Roberto, Andres Iniesta; Neymar, Luis Suarez
The game kicks off just after 12:15 p.m. ET, 6:15 p.m. local time from Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. You can catch the game on beIN Sports and beIN Sports Connect.
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