How Barcelona could line up against Real Madrid

Barcelona will be looking to move seven points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga when the two teams meet in El Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday afternoon.

Barcelona have dropped points in four of their nine league fixtures this season, but currently top the division, four points ahead of seventh-placed Real Madrid.

The corresponding match last season finished in a 2-2 draw, but Barcelona have only lost one of the last seven La Liga meetings between the two teams.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how the home side could line up against their bitter rivals at Camp Nou.

Out: Thomas Vermaelen (hamstring), Lionel Messi (fractured arm), Samuel Umtiti (knee)

The fact that Lionel Messi will miss out for Barcelona with a fractured arm brings up an interesting selection dilemma for head coach Ernesto Valverde.

Luis Suarez will, of course, lead the home side's attack, but it remains to be seen what happens around the centre-forward. Fellow South American Philippe Coutinho should start in a forward area, while Ousmane Dembele will be the player hoping to most profit from Messi's absence.

Rafinha made a strong case to be selected with a goal against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night, however, and the Brazilian could find himself in the final third with Suarez and Coutinho.

A more conservative approach, however, would be to introduce another midfielder, with Arturo Vidal an experienced option, although that might be seen as too disruptive of Valverde's preferred formation, and there is no question that Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Arthur will all start.

It is less complicated in a defensive position, with injuries to Thomas Vermaelen and Samuel Umtiti helping Clement Lenglet keep his spot at centre-back alongside Gerard Pique, while Sergi Roberto should again edge out Nelson Semedo to start on the right of the back four.

> Click here to see how Real Madrid could line up for this fixture