14 first-year players in El Clásico

The first appearance in a Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona remains a special moment in any player's career. It's a match unlike any other in terms of pace, intensity, and the intense fan and media pressure. Both teams are well aware that this match represents a true test of their players' ability to stay grounded under the spotlight. Real Madrid will host its traditional rival Barcelona on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the tenth round of the Spanish League. Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that only a few players in El Clásico history have been able to make an immediate impact in their first encounter, with stars such as Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Vinicius Junior needing several matches before establishing themselves in El Clásico. The newspaper added that there are notable exceptions, most notably the legendary Lionel Messi's debut on November 19, 2005, when he started alongside Ronaldinho, who delighted the Bernabéu crowd with his brilliant performance. Although the spotlight was on Ronaldinho, Messi showed glimpses of the genius that accompanied him throughout his career, and contributed decisively to Samuel Eto'o's first goal. Barcelona, ​​meanwhile, enters today's Clasico with a young and injury-hit squad, with nine players likely to make their Clasico debut, including goalkeepers Cotchin and Eder Aller, defenders Joffrey Torrents and Xavi Espart, midfielders Drew and Marc Bernal, and forwards Marcus Rashford, Ronnie Bardighi, and Tony Fernandez. The average age of the squad is just 23, reflecting the club's reliance on La Masia graduates, as well as the impact of the six significant absences. On the other hand, Real Madrid enters the match with fewer new players, but they are under greater pressure due to the match being played at home and in front of their fans. The Royal team is always expected to take the initiative and demand victory, making any mistake in such a match costly. Players tipped to make their Real Madrid debuts are: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Álvaro Carreras, Dean Huysen, Gonzalo García, and Franco Mastrantuono.