A blackmail scandal, a shoulder injury, and an adductor muscle injury won't stop Real Madrid from deploying three of its regulars in El Clasico.
The publishing of the team sheets for the 171st La Liga fixture between Real Madrid and Barcelona confirmed that Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, and Keylor Navas will all start on Saturday, meaning Los Blancos will take the pitch with arguably its strongest starting XI.
Here’s our starting line-up for El Clásico!
#RMClasico #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/6lmi9yfZXA
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) November 21, 2015
On Friday, manager Rafa Benitez announced that the trio would be available for El Clasico, but doubts remained over which, if any, of the three players would start.
Benzema hasn't featured for Real Madrid since he suffered a hamstring strain on international duty in early October. The French forward is also embroiled in a blackmail scandal, involving a sex tape that reportedly features international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Ramos has been struggling with a shoulder injury that was picked up in Real Madrid's 4-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League back in September and that was aggravated in the club's 3-2 defeat at Sevilla earlier this month. Reports say Ramos may undergo surgery after El Clasico.
Navas did not feature in Costa Rica's 2018 World Cup qualifiers this month because of an adductor muscle injury, and he also missed Real Madrid's defeat at Sevilla.