Luis Enrique hopes the return of Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta can help his team get the better of Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season.

Iniesta has been sidelined by a knee injury for five weeks but is back ahead of schedule for the clash at the Nou Camp.

Manager Enrique told a press conference: "The biggest news is that we're getting Iniesta back, which has extra importance since he's our captain. If there's one player who helps most with our style, it's him.''

Defenders Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique are also fit after picking up knocks last weekend.

Enrique is likely to need his big names to be on song as Barca attempt to close the six-point gap to Real at the top of the table.

Success in recent El Clasicos has been evenly shared but Barca have dominated LaLiga, winning the title in six of the last eight seasons.

But, even if Barcelona finish the weekend nine points behind their bitter rivals, Enrique does not believe the result will decide anything come the end of the season.

He said: "It's important to emerge victorious because they are a direct rival and we share similar aspirations.

"Beyond the final score, I don't think this game will be decisive in LaLiga -- we're only in week 14. In games like these, the standings have very little bearing on what happens out on the field.''

Javier Mascherano has played in many such battles and knows how it differs from other games.

He expects Real, who have won their last six league games, to cope well with the loss of Gareth Bale, who had ankle surgery this week.

"Tactically, the boss prepares for this game like any other,'' said the defender on the club website. "But perhaps some of us start playing this game mentally much earlier than we would normally. It's like the build-up to a big final.

"They are a top quality team in every position. They will be missing an important player in Bale but they have shown this year that the replacements are working out very well for them.''

Real striker Karim Benzema echoed Enrique's view that league positions will have no bearing on the game.

The Frenchman said on realmadrid.com: "It will be a very tough game against a great team so we know that we have, as always, a huge match ahead of us.

"There will be a lot of pressure, everyone is braced for that. For that reason, going into the game there as league leaders does not make a difference.''


http://www.espnfc.com/preview?gameId=458949

FTC!!! Dedicated to madrid arsenal and Mha Niqeria falconet abi na falcons then der call dem... Optional1

Hala Madrid...... I support #teamMadrid...... CR7 of life

Real madrid 2-0 barca. #Halamadrid.

Helllo bro please pm ne lets interact

Up Barca

Team Barcelona, we may be playing badly now, but this is the(el) classico. We wont lose twice @ the camp nou to madrid

both teams 2 score

Cr7 2 goals

El_classico......waiting on it like

CR7 to score the first goal.

Hala madrid! Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 3.

I dreamt Real beat us 2-0 and Ronaldo scored the two goals
Now I'm scared to watch the match

Barca 3- Madrid 1

make I Sidon here

HalaMadrid

Madrid all the way.....



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DON'T CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE NOT
SERIOUS.

Hala Madrid.

Barcelona has this

fòrca barca

FT: BARCELONA 1-1 REAL MADRID

madrid all d way!!!

If real madrid win this el-clasico today, i will dance naked then take my bath on a working transformer. If i neva electrocute by then, i go use cutlass commot all my muscles. Barcelona till i rest in peace.

Av been supporting Madrid since d days of ps1

MSN...

BARCA all the way

mrmrmister:
I dreamt Real beat us 2-0 and Ronaldo scored the two goals
Now I'm scared to watch the match

Joseph, your dreams will come true.

Barcelona line up
Ter stegen; Sergio Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Andre Gomes, Busquet, Rakitic;Neymar,Suarez, Messi.....Can sym1 tell me what Mascherano and Gomes are doing on the pitch and what Umtiti and Denis suarez are doing on the bench instead of starting...Enrique has gone mad again

Hala Madrid. I see Ronaldo scoring for sure

Visca barca

Why gomes and rakitic again.. This is the worst midfield pairing.. Messi will have to drop deep in the game to move the ball forward and roberto at rb? Should have started mascherano there

I am a barca fan but our recent form worries me.

Hala Madrid