“El Clásico” Shifts the Spotlight from Historic Stars to the Stars of the Future

The upcoming “El Clásico,” scheduled for this upcoming Saturday at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, as part of the 11th round of La Liga, marks the beginning of a new era where the new stars of Real Madrid and Barcelona will write their own history. This generation arrives on the scene after an era filled with great stars who departed one after the other for various reasons.

Brazilian player Neymar was the first big name to depart La Liga, followed by the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who parted ways with Real Madrid, and then Barcelona’s all-time best player, the Argentine Lionel Messi, along with many other well-known stars. Finally, the iconic leaders who left their unique marks on “El Clásico” left also.

Prior to the Saturday confrontation, the captains of both sides of “El Clásico” departed from their teams during the summer. The Frenchman Karim Benzema joined the Saudi team Al-Etihad after he departed from Real Madrid. At the same time, Sergio Busquets left Barcelona to join Inter Miami, reuniting with his former colleague Messi.

The departures of Benzema and Busquets represent the beginning of a new era for “El Clásico” after they achieved long-lasting records that will be frequently mentioned. The French striker participated in 46 matches against Barcelona, winning 15, drawing 10 times, and losing on 21 occasions. He scored 27 goals against “Barça” without receiving any yellow or red cards during those matches.

Benzema holds the record for the fastest goal in “El Clásico,” scoring in just 21 seconds in a match held on December 10, 2011, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. This game ended in a 3-1 win for the visitors.

As for Busquets, he has set a historic record in “El Clásico” by becoming the player with the most appearances in matches between the two rivals in all competitions, with an impressive 48 matches. The 34-year-old surpassed both Messi and Sergio Ramos, the former captain of Real Madrid, as they each featured in 45 games.

Undoubtedly, the young players will play a significant role in the upcoming clash, especially after some of them showcased their talents with Barcelona. Their outstanding performance stimulated Xavi Hernandez to praise them following Sunday’s victory over Athletic Bilbao (1-0).

During statements reported by the Spanish newspaper “Marca”, Xavi said: “The competition was tough, and the victory wasn’t easy. They were pressing us bravely and created numerous opportunities. We also had 3 or 4 clear chances.”

He added, “Guiu caught my attention because he can score and has a strong spirit; I have great affection for him. I have no problem with scouting players from the club. We have talents, and all they need is giving them confidence, just as in my case when I was young. When we see a young player ready, we consider promoting him immediately.”

Regarding the presence of many young players, he commented, “I’m surprised that they are not afraid. I see them full of enthusiasm and desire. They look at me as if to say, ‘Give us the opportunity.’ I’ve seen that in Gavi, Ferran, and Balde, and I see it in Marc as well. There is an outstanding generation that we should benefit from.”

Speaking about “El Clásico,” Xavi said, “While this match is crucial for us, there is also another critical and vital match in the Champions League. We have many injured players, and today, we finished the game with a tremendous effort.”

He continued, “We are just one point behind Real Madrid, and it’s necessary to achieve victory in ‘El Clásico.'”

In response to a question about the referee for “El Clásico,” he responded, “We shouldn’t exert any influence in this matter. It’s unfair to attempt to influence anyone, and I don’t like influencing the referee committee. We all defend our interests, but we should allow them to execute their duties. I believe in the integrity of the referees.”

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