Daily Times

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi fractured his right arm during a Spanish league fixture against Sevilla on Sunday and will miss next Sunday’s El Clasico. Moreover, Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus this summer will obviously not be part of the mega fixture too.

Does that make the Clasico less exciting?

In terms of viewership, it might come as a blow to the Spanish federation as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have this supernatural power to generate huge numbers. The stakes won’t be as high too since there won’t be a Messi or Ronaldo for the media to cash on.

During the past few years, Barcelona vs Real Madrid has been the pinnacle of football. Two top teams, with two of the best players, battling for the number one spot. This time, it would be two teams, trying to find a way out to correct a below-par start to the season. For Madrid, perhaps rectifying a disastrous one.

Lionel Messi’s goals in El Clasicos

Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals in El Clasicos

The focus on Sunday will be on the teams and not individuals, and that’s the best chance for individuals on the night to raise their stature.

For the first time in 11 years, (it is the first time since 2007 that neither Messi or Ronaldo will take part in a Clasico) the focus will be on the best performances and man of the moment, and not two individuals that are just too good to give anyone a chance to take the spotlight.

Also read: 5 things you did not know about Lionel Messi

Of course, not having Messi is a bigger blow for Barcelona than for Madrid to not have Ronaldo, considering how the situation is, but both teams will now have to use a Plan B, which does not take into consideration the individual brilliance of Messi and Ronaldo level.

It could well be a pretty even contest. With Messi, Barcelona definitely would have the upper hand, but now that both teams won’t have their veterans, the young ones will have to fire. But Barcelona still have the upper hand because they will be going into the Clasico with a 4-2 win while rivals Madrid will be coming of a 1-2 defeat.

Nonetheless, the unpredictability of the Clasico is what makes it so fascinating and we will only know what happens next Sunday.

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