Barcelona have a competitive squad with or without Messi: Andres Iniesta

Barcelona 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 Saturdays La Liga showdown at Santiago BernabeuArgentinian forward Messi has been out of action since September 26 with a knee injury but the clubrsquos alltime top scorer returned to training this week and is expected to travel with the squad for this seasonrsquos first El ClasicoLionel MessiLets hope he can play whether thatrsquos from the start or not because hersquos an essential player for us Iniesta told his clubs official website We nevertheless have a competitive enough squad to compete with or without him in the teamMessi scored 58 goals in all competitions last season for Barcelona in their Primera Division Copa del Rey and Champions League treblewinning campaignRedhot formDuring his absence this season Luis Suarez and Neymar have accounted for 20 of Barcarsquos 23 goals Neymar is La Ligarsquos leading scorer with 11 goals two more than SuarezOur form makes us feel confident Iniesta said In our most recent games we have been consistent in every sense But we know that this wonrsquot be an easy match it never is Both teams have players that can change any gameBarca 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 processReal 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 gamesWe need to dominate possession and not just create goalscoring chances but take them too But in order to win at the Bernabeu you have to be at your best Iniesta saidBarca last beat Real in the league at the Bernabeu Stadium in the 201314 campaign with a 43 triumph courtesy of a Messi hattrickIn total the sides have faced each other 170 times in the Primera Division with Real winning 71 and losing 67For the second time this season Real coach Rafa Benitez will have all of his players available for selection and that includes goalkeeper Keylor Navas A muscle injury forced the Costa Rica international to miss the teamrsquos 23 defeat at Sevilla before the international break Realrsquos first loss under Benitez Navas has kept six clean sheets in nine league games for Los BlancosAndres IniestaRonaldo to lead attackCristiano Ronaldo who is Realrsquos leading scorer with eight goals has failed to find the back of the net in his teamrsquos last two games and he will lead their attack alongside Gareth Bale and Karim BenzemaBenzema has recovered from a muscular problem while Bale who missed four games with a calf problem before returning to action at Sevilla is looking forward to the matchWith Messi21Number of goals Lionel Messi has scored in El Clasicos His 21 goals have come in 30 appearances since his first match against Real Madrid in November 200512Number of goals Messi has scored at Santiago BernabeuzeroNumber of matches the forward has missed out of 15 at Santiago Bernabeu in the last decade Barca have won seven of these encounters while drawing three and losing fiveWithout Messi20Number of Barcelonarsquos goals Neymar and Luis Suarez have scored between them ever since Messirsquos knee injury on September 26 Only three goals have come from other Barca players in this period17Barcelonarsquos last 17 La Liga goals have all been scored by either Neymar or Suarez11Number of goals Neymar has scored this season to become La Ligarsquos leading scorer with 11 goals Suarez meanwhile has scored nine goals