El Clasico Staff Picks: Real Madrid, Barcelona renew eternal rivalry

theScore’s footy staff peer into their crystal balls and make predictions for Saturday's edition of El Clasico, which pits Real Madrid against Barcelona for the 171st time in La Liga.

Gordon Brunt: A goalless Clasico is about as common as a match finishing without a single scuffle among players, and managers. The encounter is required viewing for football fans worldwide, with the next chapter of this storied rivalry expected to produce a variety of eye-popping moments. But there may not be enough to separate the two. While it won't decide the championship, a high-scoring draw should set the table for the next edition in April, a match that will likely decide the 2015-16 La Liga champion.

Score: Real Madrid 2, Barcelona 2

Daniel Rouse: Since the beginning of 2011, 16 of the 20 competitive meetings between this sparring pair have been either a draw or decided by a solitary strike, and it's unlikely the trend will change this weekend. After an inauspicious beginning to the campaign, Luis Enrique's defence has been as tight as a worm's belt recently and should be the foundations of an impressive away win. And with the relentless Luis Suarez and Neymar potentially being reunited with Lionel Messi, who returned to training on Monday, the stage is certainly set for Barca to stretch its lead at the summit of La Liga.

Score: Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 1

Anthony Lopopolo: A goal or two is all we may see in this edition of El Clasico, especially if Real Madrid can defend like it has so far this season. Los Blancos have only conceded seven goals in 11 La Liga matches. Manager Rafa Benitez has put in place a more technical system, and most of his players - the ones not injured, at least - have responded. Of course, goalkeeper Keylor Navas plays a big part - he can save penalties and pull off saves like this - but there's a concerted effort to keep shape and strike on the counterattack. Expect Madrid to thwart the advances of Neymar and Luis Suarez and seal a narrow win.

Score: Real Madrid 2, Barcelona 0

Gianluca Nesci: It feels sacrilegious to suggest that Barcelona leave Lionel Messi on the bench for any match, in particular a clash against eternal rival Real Madrid. And yet, if the pint-sized Argentine magician is not quite 100 percent recovered from the knee injury heard 'round the world - which manager Luis Enrique admitted to be the case on Friday - it would behoove the Blaugrana to keep the world's best player out of what will be a typically fiery, potentially violent encounter. Crazy, right? Not quite. The likely return of Ivan Rakitic, paired with the outrageous form of Neymar - who is on another planet right now - should be enough for the Catalan club to get the better, once again, of the capital-based side. Barcelona is, simply, a superior team, and while the gulf is certainly not large, it will show at the Bernabeu.

Score: Barcelona 2, Real Madrid 1

Carlo Campo: When the planet is brought to a 90-minute standstill, those who are watching El Clasico will be treated to a scene that is similar to when Real Madrid welcomed Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabeu during the 2013-14 season. On that occasion, the Catalan club escaped the capital of Spain with a 4-3 win after Lionel Messi tallied a hat-trick. This time around, it will be Neymar silencing supporters of Los Blancos and leading the Blaugrana to victory.

Score: Barcelona 4, Real Madrid 3

Armen Bedakian: Cristiano Ronaldo steps out onto the field at the Santiago Bernabeu. In the stands, a mix of enemy fans booing him and his own supporters, doubting his ability to influence the match. Neymar, after all, has been the golden boy as of late. He might even be better than Ronaldo. Ninety minutes later, the dust will settle, and there will be no doubt; Ronaldo isn’t done just quite yet, and Madrid will taste vintage glory once more.

Score: Real Madrid 2, Barcelona 1

Michael J. Chandler: Between August 29th and September 15th, in three matches against Betis, Espanyol and Shakhtar Donestsk, Real scored 15 goals while allowing zero. In 11 matches since, they've scored 18 times while conceding seven, marking a period of doubt for the club capped-off with a 3-2 defeat to Sevilla. Amidst all the talk of Messi's absence, Real have been a different club over that spell sans Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Isco and others. That slide ends Saturday with a Bale brace and a late tally from substitute Karim Benzema.

Score: Real Madrid 3, Barcelona 1