Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu for the 175th edition of El Clasico on Saturday.
While Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have a score to settle when it comes to the 2017 goal-scoring charts, there are a few other figures worth noting as well.
Here’s a look at five key stats.
EL CLASICO FORM ON MADRID’S SIDE
Barcelona may be unbeaten in the league this season but as far as the most recent Clasico meetings are concerned, Madrid are the ones with the upper hand.
The Catalans have won just once in the last five meetings between the two rivals, while Madrid have won three times.
Lionel Messi
MADRID ON THE VERGE OF MILESTONES
The hosts will be looking to score their 400th goal against Barcelona on Saturday and should they win, they will also have secured their 100th Clasico triumph in official as well as unofficial games.
Real Madrid
RONALDO AND MESSI GUNNING FOR 2017 SUPREMACY
Ronaldo may have picked up all the accolades this year but Messi can still get one over the Portuguese star. Both players are locked on 53 goals for club and country in 2017.
Robert Lewandowski also has 53 to his name but doesn’t play again until 2018 while Edinson Cavani is also set to finish the year on 52. A straight shoot-out between Ronaldo and Messi in El Clasico will probably determine Europe’s top scorer for 2017, unless of course Harry Kane (50) can take advantage of his two games against Burnley and Southampton to leapfrog them all.
Who will be 2017’s top scorer?
BARCELONA SCORING IS A GOOD BET
Regardless of whether they win the game or not, Barcelona hitting the back of the net at the Bernabeu is a fairly safe bet. The visitors have scored in each of the last 19 El Clasicos. Perhaps keeping a clean sheet will be their key to victory?
Madrid just can’t keep Barca out
DISCIPLINARY RECORD
El Clasico has a reputation for being a heated affair and its disciplinary record certainly speaks for itself. A total of 416 bookings have been issued in this encounter with Madrid accounting for 370 yellows and Barcelona for 346.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos once again leads the way with send-offs, registering 31 to Barcelona’s 24.
Heated affair
