Meet the Clásico debutants

FC BARCELONA

Claudio Bravo - The Chile international has effortlessly filled the void left in the Barça goal by club icon Víctor Valdés since joining from Real Sociedad in the summer and has already made it into the club’s history books - keeping a record-breaking seven straight clean sheets at the start of this Liga BBVA season. The 31-year-old has proved able with his feet and has worked up a fine understanding with his back four, as well as making vital saves when his defence is beaten – most notably keeping out a free-kick from Málaga CF’s Luis Alberto and denying Rayo Vallecano forward Javier Aquino.

Jérémy Mathieu - Has silenced critics of the hefty transfer fee Barcelona paid to prise him from Valencia in the summer by adding composure and power to the back four. The Frenchman has been a mainstay at centre-back and played more minutes than any other Barça defender this term, and can also deputise at left-back - as he did expertly in the 2-0 win at Rayo. Yet in addition to providing stability at the back, the 6ft2 defender is also an asset in the other area, although he is yet to get off the mark for his new club.

Ivan Rakitic - The former Sevilla man is viewed as the long-term successor to Barça’s midfield metronome Xavi Hernández, and with every game looks more and more suited to the role. He has racked outstanding percent pass completion rate percentages and found himself on the scoresheet a number of times. The Croat has a good track record against Madrid: a Rakitic-inspired Sevilla beat the Whites at the tail end of last season to dent their title hopes.

Munir El Haddadi - Little was known of this 19-year-old last summer but the Madrid-born forward has been the revelation of Barcelona’s season, scoring against Elche CF on his first team debut and injecting further pace into an already lightning-quick attack. Despite his inexperience, the teenager has shown he has no fear of the big occasion and will be desperate to shine in the city where he grew up.

Luis Suárez - The Uruguayan international making his debut for Barcelona in the Bernabéu is a truly mouth-watering prospect and all watching eyes, either in the Bernabéu or on television screens around the world, will be fixated on the striker’s every move. Suárez has just picked up the European Golden Boot award for his 31 goals last season with Liverpool FC, and after four months of no competitive football due to suspension, he will be more eager than ever to make an impression on the biggest game in club football.

Sandro Ramírez - The other La Masia academy product to have caught Luis Enrique’s eye, along with Munir. Although the 19-year-old is yet to make it into the starting line-up, he has come off the bench in each of the last eight games in all competitions, a clear sign of the belief his manager has in him. His assets are pace, power and a lethal shot, all things Madrid will need to watch out for if he is called upon with the Bernabéu clock ticking away.