Xabi Alonso makes it very clear to Dani Carvajal: 'The starter for el Clásico is...'

The big day is here. Barça and Real Madrid face off in what is, without a doubt, the biggest match of the day in world soccer. For an hour and a half, the eyes of the entire planet will be focused on the television to enjoy a Clásico in which there's much more than three points at stake.

The blaugranas overwhelmed Los Merengues in the four matches played last season, even taking two titles from them. They also achieved a historic 0-4 at Bernabéu that remained a source of mockery throughout the entire season. But Real Madrid wants the narrative to shift back in its favor.

Beating Barça this afternoon would mean pulling five points ahead in LaLiga, leaving a significant cushion and keeping them as the main favorites to win the league title. To achieve this, Xabi Alonso has received tremendous news that, of course, has been especially well received. In the end, it will be Barça who will have to deal with the major injury problem.

Weeks ago, several Real Madrid players were doubtful, and we didn't know if they'd make it to the Clásico. In the end, Dani Carvajal, Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Dani Ceballos are available for the match. Fabrizio Romano confirmed this yesterday. Thus, Xabi Alonso gets both of his right backs back. 

For a month, the Tolosa native has had to improvise on the right side of the defensive setup. Of the five matches played since Dani Carvajal's injury at the end of September, Fede Valverde has played there in four and Raúl Asencio has also done so on one occasion. So, one of the main dilemmas in the starting eleven Xabi will present is to see whom he has chosen for RB.

Fede Valverde set to start

However, the truth is that there's no doubt about who will be chosen, despite all the debate that's arisen in recent days. Fede Valverde will once again start as the right back in the big Clásico. Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold haven't played for over a month, and it would be very risky to trust them. This is a match of the highest intensity, and both the Spaniard and the Englishman need more days to get back into rhythm. Two days of training aren't enough.

That said, it's not out of the question that either of them could get minutes in the second half. Everything will depend on how the match is going and whether Xabi Alonso considers that, in their current state, they could be useful for Los Merengues's plans. For next weekend, against Valencia, it does seem likely that one of them could start.

Barça has it worse when it comes to injuries. Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, Lewandowski, Gavi, and Ter Stegen won't be available, although it does seem that Raphinha, Ferran Forres, and Frenkie de Jong have recovered in time.