da bet nacional： Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off in Catalunya on Saturday, but who would make a team made up of the two super-talented squads?

da luck： Has there been a more evenly matched Clasico in recent memory? Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have their strengths and weaknesses, and just one point separates them after 10 matches of La Liga's season. In fact, those strengths and weaknesses also match up quite well.

Madrid are stacked in the engine room, blessed with six top-class central midfielders to fit into four positions. Barca, meanwhile, have a superb defensive unit and are dangerous on the wings, with Xavi's a team comprised of some of the best young talent in Europe at crucial positions.

Given Madrid's slight edge in the early weeks of the title race, Barca will feel they need to pick up three points at home. But it may not be that easy. The Blaugrana are dealing with a number of injury problems, and are rushing some of their game-changing talents back to fitness.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have injury issues of their own, with Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao unlikely to play much of, if any of the rest of the season after suffering serious knee problems at the very start of the campaign.

So with that in mind, and looking at current form, who would make a combined XI for this latest Clasico? GOAL has had a go at picking the best possible team…

Getty ImagesGK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen

There might be a real contest here had Courtois not torn his ACL before the 2023-24 season started. But Madrid replaced him with Kepa Arrizabalaga, who simply isn't of the same quality as Germany's No.1.

Ter Stegen has actually struggled somewhat early in the campaign, making a few uncharacteristic mistakes. That has led to him keeping just five clean sheets and conceding half as many goals as he did over the course of the entire 2022-23 campaign. Still, Ter Stegen has shown in moments that he is still undoubtedly one of the best in the world.

AdvertisementRB: Joao Cancelo

Cancelo has offered an upgrade at a position where Barca didn't really seem to need one. Jules Kounde filled the right-back role admirably last year, but always made it clear that he felt more comfortable in the middle.

That said, Man City loanee Cancelo has offered the kind of creative spark from deep that the Blaugrana were lacking last year, causing problems with his incisive passing and dribbling ability. Add his late winner against Celta Vigo, and the Portuguese already looks like one of the signings of the summer.

Dani Carvajal, admittedly, deserves a shout here, too. The Madrid full-back looks reborn this campaign — more like a younger version of himself. Still, Cancelo has simply been more important.

Getty Images CB: Ronald Araujo

Araujo hasn't been at his best to start the season. Whether it be injuries or an odd slip up, the centre-back hasn't captured his scintillating 2022-23 form. But he has still been better than any of the other centre-backs that Barca have to offer. Dominant in the air, excellent one-on-one, and composed on the ball, Araujo is a perfect modern central defender — and will only improve.

A fit Militao would certainly push him for selection here, but with the Madrid man out for the year after sustaining a serious knee injury, there is only one option to lead this backline.

GettyCB: Antonio Rudiger

Rudiger started the season as Madrid's third-choice centre-back. It was assumed that both David Alaba and Militao would keep him out of the side, making the former Chelsea man a squad player as Madrid looked to reclaim the Liga title.

Instead, he has become a crucial part of a makeshift defence. With Militao done for the year and Alaba sidelined with a muscle problem, Rudiger has stepped up immensely. His one-on-one chops and ball-carrying ability are near unrivalled in the Spanish top-flight, while he has also improved as a passer.

Andreas Christensen has certainly enjoyed some good moments for the Blaugrana, while Kounde has impressed in spells. But Rudiger is a top-tier, reliable presence at the back that any team would love to have.