Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off in the biggest La Liga game of this season.

Barcelona currently holds a one point advantage in the Spanish League standings over Real Madrid, so the winner of this game will automatically take over first place.

This rivalry is without a doubt one of the biggest in all of sports history, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Real Madrid was in first place for the majority of the season, but Barcelona has recaptured that the last two weeks.

Here are five reasons Barcelona will defeat Real Madrid on Sunday:

1. Lionel Messi

With the new calendar year, Lionel Messi has been on another level when compared to every other player in the league. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's record scoring pace, Messi has overtaken him in goals scored with 32. Messi also has the most assists this season with 14. To make things even better for Barcelona fans, Messi has the most El Clasico goals ever with 21. Messi also recently passed Ronaldo for most career La Liga hat tricks. There's no doubt about it, Barcelona has the player who is playing like the best in the world on Sunday.

2. No James Rodriguez

Not having James Rodriguez has been devastating for Real Madrid. Ever since his broken foot injury back in Week 16 against Sevilla, Real Madrid has seen a dramatic decline in efficiency. In the six games without the Colombian superstar, Real Madrid is just 3-1-2 with seven total goals. That pretty much speaks for itself. Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale are being double-teamed now more than ever. Without Rodriguez on the field, Suarez and Neymar will be able to thrive even if Real Madrid is able to contain Messi.

3. Barcelona is Hot

Momentum is a powerful thing in sports. While Barcelona has won nine of their last 10 games to take over first place, Real Madrid has won just three of their last six games. Everything is clicking for Barcelona right now. Their defenders are getting stops, Claudio Bravo is making saves, and their offense is on fire. If Barcelona wins this game they will increase their first-place lead by four points. Barcelona only has one loss in 2015, a Week 24 defeat to Malaga. Barcelona can even walk away with a tie and be in first place. Much of the pressure is on Real Madrid.

4. Claudio Bravo

While Messi and Neymar are stealing headlines everywhere, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is outstanding this season. Bravo has the lowest goals against averaged in the league having allowed just 16 goals in his 27 starts. As good as Iker Casillas has been for Real Madrid, the Chilean goalkeeper for Barcelona has been even better. Thanks to Bravo, Barcelona has allowed the fewest goals in the league. Expect Bravo to make the difference in this game. At the rate he is going, Bravo will win the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for best goalkeeper.

5. Home Field Advantage

You could argue this is the biggest difference on Sunday. Real Madrid defeated Barcelona in Week 9, but that was at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. This game will be played at Camp Nou in Barcelona where the team is 11-0-2 this season. Barcelona has had the best home offense this season scoring 46 goals in their 13 home games, and they've also allowed the fewest goals at home, just eight. Real Madrid has lost four times on the road this season, and you can bet Barcelona fans will be louder than ever.

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