AFP, MADRIDBarcelona are the more desperate side as Real Madrid visit Catalonia today for the first El Clasico of the season boasting a six-point lead at the top of La Liga. Real Madrid have won 15 more points in all in La Liga under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane since the sides last met in April and are riding a 31-game unbeaten run in all competitions. “On Saturday, we have more to play for than Madrid, they can lose, we can’t,” Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said. “I am not going to say it is just another game, it is a very important match, it has a special meaning … a special taste,” Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said. Real Madrid will be without Gareth Bale with the Welshman now set to miss up to four months after an ankle operation, whilst Toni Kroos is also sidelined with a broken foot.

Source: Taipei Times December 02, 2016 16:05 UTC