Real Madrid visits Barcelona on Wednesday in a match pitting the top two teams in Spain with first place on the line. 

This match should have taken place back in October, but was postponed due to the violent protests in the Catalan region.

Both teams are off to a hot start with 35 points through 16 matches (Barca has the goal differential edge at 23 to 21) as we inch toward the halfway point of the 2019-20 La Liga campaign. 

Both teams are also through to the last 16 of the Champions League with tough matchups to come in February. 

Tensions always seem to run high when these two meet, which will make for another entertainment installment of arguably the best soccer rivalry in the world.

Match stats
Head-to-head

Barcelona have won more La Liga games against Real Madrid than any other side (72), while Real Madrid have beaten Barcelona the most often in the competition (72).

Barcelona could record more league wins than Real Madrid for the first time in El Clasico history.

Barcelona are one goal away from reaching 400 goals in the fixture in all competitions and just four goals away from equalling Real Madrid's total of 403.

Real Madrid have gone six La Liga meetings without winning against Barcelona (D2 L4), their worst such run in El Clasico since December 2011 when they had seven.

Barcelona

Lionel Messi has failed to score or assist in his last three games against Real Madrid in all competitions. The Argentine has never gone four consecutive appearances against them without scoring or assisting.

Luis Suarez could become the third Barcelona player to reach 10+ goals against Real Madrid in La Liga history, after Lionel Messi (18) and Cesar Rodriguez (12).

Sergi Roberto has provided six assists in eight appearances against Real Madrid in La Liga, with five of those assists resulting in Luis Suarez goals. They have combined for more La Liga goals in El Clasico than any other duo in the 21st century (five).

Real Madrid

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has the chance to become the player with the most appearances in El Clasico history (43), surpassing Manolo Sanchís, Francisco Gento and Xavi (42 each).

Zinedine Zidane is unbeaten in his four managerial games at Camp Nou in all competitions (W2 D2) and he could become the first Real Madrid manager to remain unbeaten in five away Clasicos.

Source: BBC, CBS Sports

BDST: 1322 HRS, DEC 18, 2019
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