Andres Iniesta: 'El Clasico preparation not ideal'

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has admitted that the recent international break has affected the Catalan outfit's preparations for El Clasico against Real Madrid this weekend.

The likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar have all been on duty in South America over the last couple of weeks, but Real Madrid have had Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale back at base.

The international break has seemingly put Real Madrid at an advantage entering Saturday's match, but Iniesta has insisted that his team 'know what they have to do' against Los Blancos.

"It's not the best way to prepare for a match but it's normal given the schedule we have," Iniesta, who was not called into the latest Spain squad due to a muscular problem, told AS.

"The ones who stayed behind tried to recover and the ones who were away, played. I don't think Messi and Suarez will be affected if they don't arrive in good time. They played. We know the opponent and we know what we have to do."

Barcelona will enter El Clasico currently 10 points clear of third-placed Real Madrid in the La Liga table.