Neymar-less Barca battle Real in El Clasico

Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Kick off: 7.45PM

Barcelona have appealed against the three-game suspension handed to Neymar for his sending off against Malaga and his participation in the game remains in doubt.
Defender Jeremy Mathieu remains sidelined through injury.
Neymar will not be available to play for Barcelona in Sunday night’s El Clasico after the club dropped a final bid to have his ban suspended.
The Brazil star was banned for three games for his red card and subsequent sarcastic applause of the officials in Barcelona’s 2-0 defeat against Malaga two weeks ago.
Neymar served the original one-game ban last weekend but Barcelona sought a further appeal to Spain’s Court of Arbitration for Sport to have the additional two games quashed.
That appeal was not placed until after the TAD’s regular meeting on Friday but the club argued that Neymar should have been able to continue playing while their appeal was pending.
A statement read: “Against the uncertainty due to the lack of reply from TAD with 12 hours to go until the game, and to focus all attention on sporting matters, the club have opted not to call up Neymar.
“However, Barcelona expresses its amazement at TAD’s refusal to exercise its jurisdictional functions, something which directly damages both the clubs and the competition itself.”
Barcelona go into tonight’s clash trail Real Madrid by three points at the top of La Liga and they have also played one more game.
Neymar’s absence makes their task a little tougher and boss Luis Enrique said: “For us it is like a final, only a win will do.
“For some it means it is a very attractive challenge and for others it means pressure. I prefer to take it as an attractive and marvellous challenge. It’s a chance to move level on points with Madrid.”
Real Madrid can take a giant stride towards their first La Liga title in five years by beating arch-rivals Barcelona tonight.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 4-2 on April 18 to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the seventh successive season. A win over Barcelona would give the capital club – who have a game in hand over their arch-rivals – a six-point advantage at the top of the La Liga table.
Gareth Bale has recovered from a calf strain and is available to play against Barcelona. Defenders Pepe (ribs) and Raphael Varane (hamstring) remain sidelined through injury.
Barcelona were held to a goalless draw by Juventus at Camp Nou in midweek as they lost the Champions League quarter-final tie 3-0 on aggregate. Luis Enrique’s side have only won two of their last five matches in all competitions.

Real Madrid Possible XI: Navas, Carvajal, Nacho, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Barca Possible XI: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Alcacer, L Suarez.