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El Clasico Line-Ups The Last Time Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi Didn't Play

El Clasico Line-Ups The Last Time Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi Didn't Play

We take a trip down memory lane.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Sunday's El Clasico will be played without Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the first time since 2007 and ahead of the La Liga fixture, we remember the line-ups from that game 11 years ago.

Messi has been ruled out following a fractured arm sustained last weekend against Sevilla. That was after creating and scoring a goal.

Of course, Ronaldo ended his association with Spanish football by securing a transfer to Juventus in the summer.

Though El Clasico of 2007 featured some big, big names.

We're talking Ronaldinho, Deco, Robinho, Ruud van Nistelrooy, among many, many others.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Just like this time around, Messi was injured and didn't play with then-manager Frank Rijkaard opting for a three-man attack consisting of Andres Iniesta, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o.

This is how Barcelona looked in 2007:

Image: Lineup Builder
Image: Lineup Builder

Then-Real Madrid gaffer Bernd Schuster left out Guti for Brazilian powerhouse Julio Baptista who netted the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory.

Here's who the German boss fielded in 2007:

Image: Lineup Builder
Image: Lineup Builder

Baptista bagged the match-winner in a fairly easy night of work.

"We should have finished them off sooner. I would not call it easy but it was certainly easier than I expected," Schuster said after beating Barcelona.

Real Madrid eventually won the La Liga title in 2008, 18 points clear of third place Barcelona.

But it's a far cry from the present time.

'Los Blancos' are languishing in the league, occupying seventh spot with 14 points on the board and four points behind league leaders Barcelona.

Under-fire manager Julen Lopetegui will be hoping to pick up his first league point since the end of September.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Football, El Clasico, Barcelona, Real Madrid, La Liga

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Darren Till, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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