Meet the Clásico debutants

REAL MADRID CF

Keylor Navas – The goalkeeper joined Real Madrid from Levante UD in August following an outstanding domestic campaign and FIFA World Cup, where he helped Costa Rica reach the quarter finals with a match-winning display and penalty shootout save against Greece. Despite winning many plaudits for his form over the past 12 months, he has managed only one game for his new club thus far: a 5-1 home win over Elche CF. The 27-year-old has faced the Catalan outfit three times during his club career in Spain, most notably when he helped Levante secure a 1-1 draw in January’s Liga BBVA meeting, producing a number of outstanding to earn himself the man of the match accolade.

James Rodríguez – The Colombia international set the world alight from an advanced attacking role at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, finding the back of the net six times as his nation reached the quarter-finals, winning the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer in the process. An ever-present in a more withdrawn position for Real Madrid, it took the 23-year-old a few games to get used to his new role in the side, but he is now firing on all cylinders and will be looking for an instant impact on his Clásico debut.

Toni Kroos – Another player who arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu following an impressive campaign in Brazil, the German has been involved heavily for the Whites in his debut campaign. He has brought balance, elegance and guile to the European champions’ midfield, and has already assumed some of the dead ball taking responsibility from the departed Xabi Alonso. Kroos missed out through injury as his old side FC Bayern München saw off Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, and will be hoping that his new employers enjoy similar success against the Blaugrana.

Javier Hernández – Nicknamed ‘Chicharito,’ or ‘Little Pea,’ the Mexican joined the UEFA Champions League holders on a season-long loan from Manchester United FC at the end of August. The marksman, who earned himself a reputation as a ‘super-sub’ in England, faced FC Barcelona in the final of the 2011 UEFA Champions League with the English side, however was helpless as a Lionel Messi-inspired performance saw the Spanish side come out as 3-1 victors. He is likely to be used as an impact player by Carlo Ancelotti as the Italian looks to stretch defences on the counter attack.