TEAM NEWS: Song left out as Pedro and Cesc start for Barca in Clasico clash

The Catalan giants exclude the
Cameroon international from their
line-up for tonight's match at Camp
Nou as their Liga rivals line up as
expected for the showpiece fixture
Adriano starts in defence for
Barcelona against Real Madrid, after
Gerard Pique failed to prove his
fitness to boss Tito Vilanova ahead of
this evening's Clasico.
The 25-year-old Spain international
picked up an ankle injury against
Spartak Moscow on September 19,
and despite completing training with
the rest of the first-team yesterday,
was deemed unfit to be involved
tonight by Vilanova.
Elsewhere the Catalan giants line up
as expected, with Cesc Fabregas,
Sergio Busquets and Xavi completing a
midfield three and Andres Iniesta and
Pedro operating either side of Lionel
Messi up front.
Iniesta starts his first match since
September 12, after picking up an
adductor muscle injury while on
international duty nearly a month ago.
While Vilanova has had to shuffle his
squad, with Pique, Carlos Puyol, Eric
Abidal, Isaac Cuenca and Thiago
Alcantara all on the sidelines, Madrid
come into the match with a full set of
players at coach Jose Mourinho's
disposal.
The debate surrounding who would
start out of Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric
and Kaka in attacking midfield has
been resolved, with Los Blancos'
Portuguese trainer opting to play Ozil
alongside Angel Di Maria and Cristiano
Ronaldo in an attacking three
supporting lone striker Karim
Benzema.
Marcelo continues at left-back for the
away side, while Xabi Alonso and
Sami Khedira start in defensive
midfield in Mourinho's favoured
4-2-3-1 formation.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Alves,
Adriano, Mascherano, Alba; Xavi,
Busquets, Fabregas; Iniesta, Messi,
Pedro
Subs: Pinto, Montoya, Bartra, Song,
Sergi Roberto, Alexis, Villa
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas;
Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo;
Khedira, Alonso; Ozil, Cristiano, Di
Maria, Benzema
Subs: Adan, Coentrao, Kaka, Essien,
Albiol, Modric, Higuain