Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi is yet to score in the El Clasico clash with Real Madrid since fierce rival Cristiano Ronaldo left Spain to join Italian giants Juventus in the summer of 2018. Messi has not scored in his six El Clasico appearances since then with his last goal coming during the2-2 draw in the league in May 2018.

Ronaldo and Messi pushed each other to greatness during their time together in Spain and a lot of football stakeholders have suggested that the six-match goalless run suffered by Messi in the El Clasicotill date could not be unconnected with the exit of Portuguese national team skipper Ronaldo.

Messi is on a run of six games without a goalin the El Clasico but the Barcelona superstar is at least eight goals ahead of anyone for the most goals scored in the fixture. He has scored 26 goals in the history of the fixture and the closest players to him are Cristiano Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano. Ronaldo and Di Stefano scored 18 El Clasico goals.

Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos will miss the latest El Clasico meeting this weekend because of injury. To this effect, Messi will join him on 45 appearances in the fixture when he leads his team out. It could also be the last El Clasico for Messi as his future is still undecided.

Barcelona fans are concerned that Messi could leave the club as his contract expires in few months time though new president Joan Laporta is certain that the skipper will commit his future to the club by penning a new deal. For now, the focus is on trying to win a double that was unlikely at the start of the season. Messi and Barcelona are going for both the Spanish La Liga title and the Spanish Copa Del Rey.

Messi has been the star of the show for Barcelona as usual in the quest to make something meaningful out of this season after a poor start under new manager Ronald Koeman. The petite Argentine has scored 19 goals in 20 games in all competitions this year to propel his team to within one point of leaders Atletico Madrid ahead of this weekend's El Clasico meeting away to Real Madrid. Barcelona have reached the Copa Del Rey final and will face Athletic Bilbao hoping to avenge their Spanish Super Cup final defeat earlier in the year.