Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta has reminded Real Madrid that his team will be formidable even if star player Lionel Messi is unable to play in Saturday's La Liga showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Argentinian forward Messi has been out of action since September 26 with a knee injury but the club's all-time top scorer returned to training this week and is expected to travel with the squad for this season's first 'El Clasico'.
"Let's hope he can play, whether that's from the start or not, because he's an essential player for us," Iniesta said on his club's official website. "We nevertheless have a competitive enough squad to compete with or without him in the team."
Messi scored 58 goals in all competitions last season for Barcelona in their Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble-winning campaign.
During his absence this season, Luis Suarez and Neymar have accounted for 20 of Barca's 23 goals. Neymar is La Liga's leading scorer with 11 goals, two more than Suarez.
"Our form makes us feel confident," Iniesta said. "In our most recent games we have been consistent in every sense.
"But we know that this won't be an easy much, it never is. Both teams have players that can change any game."
Barca, coached by Luis Enrique, are three points clear of Real. They have kept a clean sheet in their last four games in all competitions and scored eight goals in the process.
Real have the best attacking line in La Liga with 26 goals and they boast the second best defensive line behind Atletico Madrid with just seven goals conceded in 11 games.
"We need to dominate the possession and not just create goalscoring chances but take them, too," Iniesta said.
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