Barcelona will be without Lionel Messi for El Clasico for the first time since 2007, but La Masia graduate Martin Montoya still fancies his boyhood side to be victorious against a Real Madrid side in horrendous form.
Messi fractured his arm in the recent 4-2 win over Sevilla and is still two weeks away from a return. However, the Catalans face their rivals amid crisis, with Julen Lopetegui fighting to save his job and Real without a win in a month.
Los Blancos beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Champions League in midweek, bringing an end to a five-match winless run stretching back to September 22’s 1-0 victory over Espanyol.
Since then, Lopetegui has overseen defeats to Sevilla, CSKA Moscow, Alaves and Levante, with a 0-0 draw in the Madrid derby with Atleti their only point in that period.
Montoya, who moved away from the Spanish giants in 2016 and now plays for Brighton in England, will be watching El Clasico after facing Wolves and thinks his former club are in good shape, even without their talisman.
“It is going to be a game with many goals because El Clasico is always like this,” Montoya told Goal and Omnisport. “It is very attractive, with ups and downs. I want Barcelona to win, always.
Montoya (l) made 67 appearances for Barca between 2010-15.
“Real Madrid are a big club though. I think the result will be 2-1 or 3-1 for Barcelona. It is true Barcelona are currently without Messi but they have other big players too. Messi is almost everything, but there are also other big players.
“Real Madrid are a bit down now, but Real are always Real and every single game is a different world.
“It is the biggest event. Barcelona v Real Madrid makes all the people excited. It is a big party for all the Barcelona fans and even more for a former academy player.
“You’re very proud to play in El Clasico. Fortunately, I have been able to play Clasicos and, being honest, it is spectacular. The week before, the minutes before the game… and especially during the game it is very intense.”
