Sports El Classico: Barcelona to unleash Luiz Suarez on Real Madrid

Uruguay's Luis Suarez is set to be unleashed by Barcelona when they face their bitter rivals, Real Madrid in the first El Classico match of the season.

Both teams will this weekend clash at the Santiago Bernabeu, in what is expected to be Suarez's first game on his comeback from a four-month ban.

Suarez has been out of competitive football action for about 122 days for biting Italian defender, Giorgio Chiellini, which led to his ban from all football activities by the world football governing body, FIFA.

Suarez admitted recently that he feared his latest biting incident would have pulled the plug in his dream move from Liverpool to Barcelona

"I was scared that they would call it off, as a repercussion of the incident. I was aware that could have happened," he said.

"By then the contact had begun with Barca and soon (his agent) Pere Guardiola would ring me and tell me it was done.

"I began to cry, for the situation I was going through and the faith Barca had shown in me. I felt really happy for the commitment the club were demonstrating in me."

The time for the repayment of that faith has now come. Yet, he will have to get used to being a smaller fish in a bigger pond at Barca.

Suarez joins an already star-studded and in-form forward line in four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Brazilian captain Neymar in a line-up beyond the budgets of even the majority of fantasy football managers.

However, they have put that behind them quickly to start the season in stunning form. Messi has been back to his best with nine goals and 11 assists in 11 appearances, while Neymar has struck 10 times in as many games.

"We are desperately awaiting the return of Luis because he will give us a lot of strength as a team," Messi said after Barca's 3-1 win over Ajax on Tuesday.

"He is a great striker who will score a lot of goals. I am happy for him because he has spent a lot of time without playing."

What remains unclear is whether Suarez's debut will come as a starter or a substitute at the Bernabeu.

"He is very intense in the training sessions, he places a lot of importance in the day-to-day work and we hope that he will offer a lot," said Barca boss Luis Enrique in dismissing concerns over his fitness.

"From what I have seen of him in these weeks it is clear that he is getting close to his best."

His match sharpness and confidence was also boosted by scoring twice in friendlies for Uruguay against Saudi Arabia and Oman earlier this month.

Now he must take Messi and Neymar's lead by putting his World Cup nightmare behind him to remind the world why is not just one of the most controversial, but best players on the planet.

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