Barcelona visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in search of a win over arch-rivals Real Madrid to further their supremacy at the top of La Liga table. The entertainment will be provided by over one billion euros on the pitch.
Football fans worldwide will be gifted the chance to watch the two sides battle it out on December 23. 'El Clasico' is a fixture that always promises to exceed expectations due to the tremendous amound of quality on both Zidane's and Valerde's respective lineups, who are valued at over 1,000 million euros in total.
Real Madrid stopper Keylor Navas is worth €23.9 million, while the defensive line protecting the Costa Rican adds another €150 million: Sergio Ramos (52.6), Raphael Varane (32.6), Dani Carvajal (22.9), Marcelo (41.9).
Using BeSoccer's own statistics database (ProFootballDB), Real's midfield is valued at €195.7 million. Casemiro (26,9), Kroos (59.3), Modric (54.8), Isco (54,7.) Up front, the ususal suspects: Cristiano Ronaldo (86.6) and Benzema (71.2) will add another €157.8 million to a team that doesn't feature the pricey likes of Gareth Bale or Mateo Kovacic.
Even with the Welshman likely to start on the bench, there will be plenty of stars at the Bernabeu. Madrid's €526.7 million, when put together with Barcelona's own €470.5 million, make up a grand total that surpasses the one billion mark.
Ernesto Valverde's starting lineup will feature Ter Stegen (25) in goal and Sergi Roberto (27,6), Piqué (36,8), Vermaelen (17,3) and Jordi Alba (36,5), with Barcelona's defensive line worth €143,2 million.
Busquets (52,1), Rakitic (47,9), Paulinho (34,9) and Iniesta (24) will play in midfield. €158,9 million between them, while the most expensive man in 'El Clasico', Lionel Messi (90,8), and his strike partner Luis Suárez (77,6) are both worth €168.4 million between them.
Real Madrid have a slight advantage when it comes to the price tag, but only one thing matters in the billion-dollar 'Clasico', and that is what happens on the pitch at the Bernabeu.