Prolific Messi, unbeaten Zidane and the best Clasico Opta stats

Real Madrid take on Barcelona on Sunday in a
Clasico that could prove decisive in LaLiga's title
race.
Zinedine Zidane's men are three points clear of
their eternal rivals heading into Sunday's clash,
and they possess a game in hand.
The match at the Santiago Bernabeu is about much
more than two title contenders squaring off,
though.
It is about Lionel Messi meeting Cristiano Ronaldo,
with the Barca attacker well ahead of his Madrid
nemesis in the goalscoring charts.
It is about Barcelona coach Luis Enrique facing the
team where he really made a name for himself
during his playing career before switching
allegiances and moving to Camp Nou.
It is about unexpected heroes coming to the rescue
for their respective sides, such as Jeremy Mathieu
and Sergio Ramos.
Ahead of what will likely be a crunch Clasico, we
take a look at some of the best Opta stats.
72 - Madrid have beaten Barca 72 times in LaLiga
history. No team has a better record against the
Catalans.
68 - Barcelona have recorded 68 wins over Madrid
in the Spanish top flight, more than any other
opponent.
21 - With his hat-trick in 2014, Messi surpassed
Alfredo Di Stefano (18) as Clasico top scorer with
21 goals.
15 - Keylor Navas has conceded 15 goals against
Barcelona in LaLiga, at least six more than against
any other side in the competition.
13 - Gerard Pique has lost just three out of 13
Clasico encounters at the Bernabeu in all
competitions, winning seven and drawing the
remaining three.
12 - Ronaldo has only scored five goals in 12
matches against Barca on home soil, three of them
from the penalty spot.
5 - Karim Benzema has scored five goals in his
last five Clasicos at the Bernabeu.
4 - Ramos has scored four headers against Barca
in LaLiga, more than he has managed against any
other side.
3 - Mathieu has scored three goals in his last four
starts against Madrid, all three with his head.
0 - Zidane has not lost in his two first Clasicos as
Madrid coach, winning one and drawing the other.
The last coach not to lose any of his first three was
Radomir Antic in 1992, who triumphed once and
drew two.