Barcelona boss Luis Enrique will be hoping that striker Lionel Messi can continue his masterful form when his side host Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday night.

Messi earned widespread plaudits for his performance against Manchester City in midweek as he helped the Catalan giants progress through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

That victory continued the club's recent fine form in all competitions, with nine wins being recorded from their last 10 La Liga fixtures to move a point clear of Real in the standings

Enrique will be without midfielder Sergio Busquets, who is still nursing an ankle injury, but Claudio Bravo will return in place of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Real head into the contest having enjoyed a seven-day break after their 2-0 win over Levante, the first in the league in three matches.

That result was vital ahead of their trip to the Camp Nou, but coach Carlo Ancelotti will be aware of the importance of this fixture, with defeat resulting in a four-point deficit and perhaps moving him closer to the exit door in the summer.

Winger Gareth Bale netted twice last weekend to silence his doubters for the time being, but the Welsh international needs a big performance against the club's arch rivals.

Midfielder Toni Kroos could be recalled to the starting lineup in place of Lucas Silva, but Raphael Varane is likely to have to make do with a place on the substitutes' bench.

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: WWLWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Mascherano, Iniesta, Rakitic; Neymar, Messi, Suarez

Real Madrid:

Form in La Liga: LWWDLW
Form in all competitions: WWDLLW

Possible starting lineup: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Sports Mole says: 3-1