Real Madrid v Barcelona: Messi and Ronaldo’s seasons so far

There’s been plenty of drama this term

On Saturday afternoon Real Madrid and Barcelona will meet competitively for the 236^th time.

El Clasico has taken on a new level of global stardom since Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo began pushing each other to a another realm of footballing greatness.

But as they prepare to face off at the Santiago Bernabeu the two players have endured vastly contrasting fortunes this term.

Ronaldo has struggled, netting just four league goals to Messi’s 14.

Indeed there are whispers that age is creeping up with Ronaldo, who turns 33-years-old in less than two months’ time.

Here, the Coral News Team runs through the two superstars’ seasons so far…

Pre-season

After landing a La Liga and Champions League double last May, Real were sitting pretty over the summer as Kings of Spain and Europe.

What’s more, the core of Zinedine Zidane’s squad all remained at the club.

In Barcelona, Lionel Messi saw Paris Saint-Germain upset the establishment with the world-record purchase of Neymar.

It meant Barca’s famed MSN trio was a leg down, and threatened to derail their entire preparation for the campaign ahead.

The early weeks

Things went wrong right from the off for Ronnie and Real. The Portugal ace was handed a five-game ban for pushing a referee in the Spanish Super Cup.