Head coach Luis Enrique has confirmed that Luis Suarez will
make his Barcelona debut during El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on
Saturday.
The clash between Barca and Real Madrid has
always been the biggest event on the Primera Division calendar but
Suarez's return from his four-month ban for his bizzare act, biting Giorgio Chiellini at
last summer's World Cup adds extra spice to an already
highly-anticipated encounter.
The manager now has a decision to make as to whether he starts his marquee signing on the bench or goes with a three-pronged attack with Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi.
The head coach is highly unlikely to split the Argentinian and the Brazilian, who have scored 13 goals between them in the last five games but he has revealed that Suarez will definitely feature in some capacity on Saturday.
"Today I cannot play this game but you will have assurance he will play minutes," he told Spanish media at his pre-match press conference. "How many? I do not know.
"It's an important occasion for him and he will have minutes."
Opposite number Carlo Ancelotti insisted that the presence of Suarez would not change his approach, but he feels the Uruguayan will be a welcome addition to the Primera Division.
"I'm not here to judge the behaviour of Luis Suarez," he told his own pre-match press conference, televised by Sky Sports News.
"I respect him a lot as a player, he's a fantastic player, he has scored a lot of goals but that doesn't change our tactics of the game with Suarez or without Suarez.
"I think that for football it is good news that Suarez can play in the Spanish league."
While Suarez is in line to play his first El Clasico, Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta is a veteran of such affairs and will make his 30th appearance in the fixture at the Bernabeu.
The Spain international will be the man expected to supply the service to his three prolific team-mates and he admits the entire squad is excited about Suarez's availability.
"He's happy to be available and the rest of us are happy about it too," he told a press conference reported by www.fcbarcelona.com.
"We hope he performs as well as he has always done."
Away from the Luis Suarez show, Messi is on the brink of making Primera Division history as he sits just one goal behind Telmo Zarra's record of 251.
The Bernabeu would be the perfect place for the 27-year-old to break the record and Iniesta would be delighted to see him do it, if only because a Messi brace would mean things were going well in the game.
"I just want to see him get past the record, that'd be a good sign for us and mean we are in with a chance of winning," he said.
Barca currently sit at the top of the table, four points clear of Real who are third, and Iniesta is not losing focus on the task at hand amid all the hype surrounding the occasion.
"We will be going there with the intention of winning," he said.
"It'd be a big mistake to think that we've got a four-point lead and even if we lose we'll still be top.
"We're just thinking about playing well, winning and stretching our lead in the table, which would be important, but not decisive at this stage of the season."
Luis Enrique has Sergio Busquests back in full training and described him as "well" but the midfielder has not yet been given the all-clear by the medical staff to play.
James Rodriguez is set to play in his first El Clasico after starring against Liverpool in Champions League action on Wednesday and he has hailed the spirit in the camp ahead of the crunch clash.
"It will be a tough and complicated match," he said
"I want to approach it calmly, responsibly and also really be up for it, in order to help the team get the win."
"I'm in good form, as is the whole squad. We have a strong group of players and are united, mentally speaking."
"Rodriguez and Isco are both set to keep their places in the Real attack after Ancelotti confirmed that Gareth Bale is not yet fit enough after missing the midweek victory at Anfield through injury."
"He was injured a week ago and is not available for tomorrow," he said. "He is one of our most important players and has great confidence."
"It was not easy for him in the beginning but now he feels good, he knows this league."
Ancelotti also revealed that Pepe has fully recovered after a knock and will start alongside the returning Sergio Ramos, while Dani Carvajal could take the place of Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 13 career goals against Barcelona, will be looking to continue his run of having scored in every league game this season with 15 goals in seven games.
The manager now has a decision to make as to whether he starts his marquee signing on the bench or goes with a three-pronged attack with Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi.
The head coach is highly unlikely to split the Argentinian and the Brazilian, who have scored 13 goals between them in the last five games but he has revealed that Suarez will definitely feature in some capacity on Saturday.
"Today I cannot play this game but you will have assurance he will play minutes," he told Spanish media at his pre-match press conference. "How many? I do not know.
"It's an important occasion for him and he will have minutes."
Opposite number Carlo Ancelotti insisted that the presence of Suarez would not change his approach, but he feels the Uruguayan will be a welcome addition to the Primera Division.
"I'm not here to judge the behaviour of Luis Suarez," he told his own pre-match press conference, televised by Sky Sports News.
"I respect him a lot as a player, he's a fantastic player, he has scored a lot of goals but that doesn't change our tactics of the game with Suarez or without Suarez.
"I think that for football it is good news that Suarez can play in the Spanish league."
While Suarez is in line to play his first El Clasico, Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta is a veteran of such affairs and will make his 30th appearance in the fixture at the Bernabeu.
The Spain international will be the man expected to supply the service to his three prolific team-mates and he admits the entire squad is excited about Suarez's availability.
"He's happy to be available and the rest of us are happy about it too," he told a press conference reported by www.fcbarcelona.com.
"We hope he performs as well as he has always done."
Away from the Luis Suarez show, Messi is on the brink of making Primera Division history as he sits just one goal behind Telmo Zarra's record of 251.
The Bernabeu would be the perfect place for the 27-year-old to break the record and Iniesta would be delighted to see him do it, if only because a Messi brace would mean things were going well in the game.
"I just want to see him get past the record, that'd be a good sign for us and mean we are in with a chance of winning," he said.
Barca currently sit at the top of the table, four points clear of Real who are third, and Iniesta is not losing focus on the task at hand amid all the hype surrounding the occasion.
"We will be going there with the intention of winning," he said.
"It'd be a big mistake to think that we've got a four-point lead and even if we lose we'll still be top.
"We're just thinking about playing well, winning and stretching our lead in the table, which would be important, but not decisive at this stage of the season."
Luis Enrique has Sergio Busquests back in full training and described him as "well" but the midfielder has not yet been given the all-clear by the medical staff to play.
James Rodriguez is set to play in his first El Clasico after starring against Liverpool in Champions League action on Wednesday and he has hailed the spirit in the camp ahead of the crunch clash.
"It will be a tough and complicated match," he said
"I want to approach it calmly, responsibly and also really be up for it, in order to help the team get the win."
"I'm in good form, as is the whole squad. We have a strong group of players and are united, mentally speaking."
"Rodriguez and Isco are both set to keep their places in the Real attack after Ancelotti confirmed that Gareth Bale is not yet fit enough after missing the midweek victory at Anfield through injury."
"He was injured a week ago and is not available for tomorrow," he said. "He is one of our most important players and has great confidence."
"It was not easy for him in the beginning but now he feels good, he knows this league."
Ancelotti also revealed that Pepe has fully recovered after a knock and will start alongside the returning Sergio Ramos, while Dani Carvajal could take the place of Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 13 career goals against Barcelona, will be looking to continue his run of having scored in every league game this season with 15 goals in seven games.
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