The great assist providers of El Clasico

There are players who are remembered for their goals, others for their teamwork, some for both. Here is a look at eight of the top assist providers of recent years in club football’s biggest match. Watch ElClasico live this Sunday on SuperSport LaLiga (channel 204 on DStv) at 4:15pm on Sunday.

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Precise build-up play is key to scoring goals. Look no further than matches like ElClasico, where fine margins can determine everything. With this in mind, here’s a list of the top assist providers in ElClasico since the 1998/99 season.

Lionel Messi
The Argentine star leads the way with most ElClasico assists in ElClásico this century (14). He’s also the top scorer in ElClasico history, with 26 goals. There isn’t much more to say that hasn’t already been said about this all-time icon – a true legend of ElClasico, without whom it’s hard to tell the story of club football’s biggest game.

Xavi
Xavi Hernández was the definition of precision when delivering the ball to his teammates. The former Barcelona midfielder is a true legend of LaLiga, playing 42 times in ElClasico. In those games he provided ten assists, proving the difference on many occasions.

Sergi Roberto
Sergi Roberto is the perfect example of a multipurpose player. His versatility has allowed him to play in ElClásico de LaLiga both as a midfielder and as a right-back, memorably bursting forward and assisting Luis Suarez for the opening strike of a 4-0 win at the Bernabeu in 2015. The Barça youth squad product has embraced the philosophy of La Masía of maintaining possession and being precise in passing to advance in attack. In ElClásico matches, Roberto sits third among the top assist providers with a total of six.

Karim Benzema
Real Madrid’s French striker, in addition to scoring goals, also knows how to link up and provide assists for teammates. Aside from his 10 goals vs Barcelona – including one in their last meeting last season – Benzema has provided nine assists in ElClasico in all competitions.

Jordi Alba
The left flank is definitely an area that Barcelona will look to exploit come this weekend’s ElClasico. Left-back Jordi Alba is key to attacks from wide, and is of course among the fixture’s most prolific assist providers, with five – including one in each of last season’s encounters.

Roberto Carlos
Another left back, this time a legend for Real Madrid. Fans of Los Blancos fell in love with the Brazilian thanks to his exciting and tireless roaming down the flank in the 1990s and 2000s. His power, speed and attacking ability saw him provide four assists in LaLiga ElClasico fixtures during his career, in addition to a number of goals.

Dani Alves
Another Brazilian defender, this time a right-back, who left his mark on the history of ElClásico was Dani Alves. The Barça defender provided four assists against Real Madrid in LaLiga Santander.

Andres Iniesta
Like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta is a veritable legend of LaLiga. Iniesta enamored fans the world over with his style and quality and playing in 38 ElClasico fixtures during his time at Barcelona. The former Barça midfielder and World Cup winner is one of the top assist providers of Real Madrid-FC Barcelona in LaLiga Santander over the last 23 years, with a total of three assists.