Five Barcelona and Real Madrid players to watch in El Clasico who aren't star names

Aditya Devavrat 07:44 20/12/2017
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  • El Clasico won't just be decided by the star names.

    Everyone knows who the star attractions are when Barcelona play Real Madrid. All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and expectations will be high for players like Andres Iniesta and Luka Modric, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos, Luis Suarez and Karim Benzema – just to name a few.

    But both sides have less-feted players who are equally capable of impacting the outcome of El Clasico. From two standout midfielders to a long-forgotten defender, there are names in either squad who may never get star billing but can be stars on the day.

    Here are five such players to watch out for in Saturday’s crunch La Liga clash.

    PAULINHO

    Brazilian midfielder Paulinho’s success at Barcelona has shocked the world. It hasn’t been half a season since he’s joined, and yet there’s nobody who still wonders what the club was thinking when La Blaugrana lavished big funds on signing the former Tottenham man from Guangzhou Evergrande.

    Paulinho has scored six goals in La Liga, more than either Ronaldo or Antoine Griezmann, but more than that, he just seems to fit in Barcelona’s midfield. Anyone who thought he’d look out of place has had to eat their words over the last four months.

    Paulinho has surprised everyone with how easily he's settled in at Barcelona.

    Paulinho has surprised everyone with how easily he’s settled in at the Camp Nou.

    CASEMIRO

    Over the latter half of this year, Casemiro has belatedly been given the recognition he deserves. The Real Madrid midfield is no longer two world-class players and Casemiro – the Brazilian has proven that he should be spoken of in the same breath as Modric and Toni Kroos.

    A few high-profile goals have helped, but largely he’s just being given due credit for playing the role he’s supposed to – shielding the defence, dropping back and making crucial tackles, moving play along, launching and joining attacks, running from box to box – basically, the ideal modern midfielder. He’s indispensable.

    Casemiro is now rightly recognised as one of the best midfielders in Europe.

    Casemiro is now rightly recognised as one of the best midfielders in Europe.

    SERGI ROBERTO

    If the chatter is true and Sergi Roberto is frustrated at not being given enough opportunities to play in his preferred midfield berth, it isn’t showing on the pitch. The young Spaniard has looked solid at right-back, and like all Barcelona full-backs, is a crucial part of the attack, tallying four assists so far in the league.

    On Saturday, if picked, he’ll have the toughest job of any Barcelona player – marking Ronaldo. It’ll be the biggest test of the homegrown star’s career so far.

    Despite his winner against PSG in February, Roberto's Barca career hasn't taken off.

    Despite his winner against PSG in February, Roberto’s Barca career hasn’t taken off.

    KEYLOR NAVAS

    Back from injury and back in the spotlight. The rumours that Real Madrid are looking for a new goalkeeper don’t seem to go away, and all the while the Costa Rican soldiers on. He’s made a few high-profile mistakes, no doubt, but he’s also put in some stellar performances to preserve Los Blancos victories.

    Meanwhile, his Barcelona opposite number Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s reputation has skyrocketed this season, with the German now being talked of as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Between that and Madrid reportedly finding their keeper of the future in Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga, Navas is getting overshadowed. But he could provide a timely reminder of his quality by putting another top performance against Messi and company.

    Keylor Navas is always on the verge of being pushed out the door at Real Madrid.

    Keylor Navas is always on the verge of being pushed out the door at Real Madrid.

    THOMAS VERMAELEN

    If anyone had forgotten that Thomas Vermaelen was still at Barcelona, they would have been forgiven. His spell at the Catalan side has been blighted by injuries since he moved from Arsenal three summers ago, and he’s been restricted to a handful of appearances as a result.

    But an injury to first-choice centre-back Samuel Umtiti, coupled with Vermaelen’s return to fitness this season, means he’s the likely candidate to start El Clasico alongside Pique. Vermaelen has started three straight games since Umtiti’s injury, and lasted 90 minutes in all three. He also deputised for Pique when the latter missed Barcelona’s crucial clash with Valencia last month, and performed admirably well. There was a time when the Belgian was one of the top defenders in Europe, and, fitness permitting, he’s got a chance to show that form again.

    Thomas Vermaelen seems to have put his injury issues behind him.

    Thomas Vermaelen seems to have put his injury issues behind him.

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