Combined XI: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

Barcelona currently lead the La Liga table, nine points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, with the two teams preparing to meet for the fourth time this season.

Los Blancos ran out 3-1 winners at Bernabeu in the league back in October, but Barcelona have since beaten their bitter rivals on two occasions, recording a 3-1 victory in the final of the Spanish Super Cup before posting a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on March 2.

Real Madrid have dominated the recent La Liga contests between the two sides, winning five of their last six fixtures in the top flight of Spanish football.

Some of the world's best players will be on display this weekend, and with that in mind, Sports Mole chooses a combined XI, selecting players that will be available for the contest.

Thibaut Courtois is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in world football, but it is very difficult to look past Marc-Andre ter Stegen between the sticks considering his record for Barcelona in the league this season. Indeed, the German has conceded just eight times in 25 matches, keeping 19 clean sheets in the process, and he has put in a string of brilliant performances in Spain's top flight this term.

At right-back, Barcelona's Jules Kounde is given the nod over Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal, with the latter not being at his best this season. Kounde was signed as a centre-back and that is undoubtedly where he prefers to play, but the Frenchman has proved to be a brilliant performer at right-back during the 2022-23 campaign.

David Alaba would have been in this side if he were available, but the Austria international is on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, meaning that Barcelona's Ronald Araujo and Real Madrid's Eder Militao feature in the middle of the defence.

Militao has been outstanding for Los Blancos this term, scoring six goals in 34 appearances in all competitions, with the Brazilian cementing himself as one of the best centre-backs in world football. Meanwhile, there had to be a spot for Barcelona's outstanding defender Araujo, with the 24-year-old overcoming his injury issues to feature on 21 occasions this term.

At left-back, Alejandro Balde features over Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba and Real Madrid pair Ferland Mendy and Nacho. Balde has contributed five assists in 32 appearances for his Catalan club this term, with the 19-year-old developing into one of the most exciting young full-backs in world football.

These two clubs, as expected, are spoilt for choice when it comes to central midfielders, and it was very difficult to choose a midfield three. Pedri, having overcome a hamstring problem, was a certainty, with the Spaniard a vital player for Barcelona, scoring seven goals in all competitions this season.

There are also two midfielders from Real Madrid, with Federico Valverde and Luka Modric being named in the side. Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Toni Kroos are all unfortunate to miss out, but Modric has again been a vital player for Los Blancos this term, scoring six goals and registering five assists in 36 appearances, and he was at his classy best against Liverpool last time out.

Valverde has, more often than not, played as a right-sided attacker this term, but the Uruguay international features in central midfield in this XI. The 24-year-old has scored 12 goals and registered four assists in 41 appearances for Real Madrid this season, including seven goals in the league.

The front three, in truth, was relatively easy to pick. Robert Lewandowski was always sailing into the side, with the Poland international scoring 25 goals and registering six assists in 32 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona since his arrival from Bayern Munich last summer.

Karim Benzema will be fit despite suffering a scare against Liverpool, and the forward has scored 19 goals and registered five assists in 28 appearances in all competitions this term. Benzema is joined in the attack by Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Junior, who is undoubtedly now one of the best talents in the world, scoring 19 goals and registering 10 assists in 40 appearances in all competitions this term.