the clubs big-league roster for the first two months of the seaso

Barcelona host Real Madrid on Saturday evening in the hotly-anticipated Clasico. Luis Enriques La Liga leaders thrashed their arch rivals at the Bernabeu 4-0 earlier this season and will aim to do the double over Los Blancos to maintain their push for back-to-back Spanish titles.But Zinedine Zidanes men will be out for revenge - so who will come out on top? From BBC v MSN to Real Madrids defence, Guillem Balague looks at the five issues which will decide the Clasico...1. Marcelo v Dani AlvesOffensively speaking, Marcelo has possibly been Real Madrids most influential player this season, which is saying something when you consider he is officially a full-back.But its precisely this unpredictable, gung-ho, swash-buckling, up and at em approach to the game - an approach that sees him plough down the wing, sometimes in midfield, other times up front - that has been used to great effect by Real Madrid this season. Real Madrid defender Marcelo is an attacking threat This can of course create its own problems not least because it frequently leaves the Madrid defence short staffed, although he is no slouch in a defensive capacity, particularly on a one-on-one basis, despite being prone to lapses in concentration particularly when defending diagonal balls crossed from the other side of the pitch.This is a problem he shares with Barcelonas Dani Alves, a player cast in a very similar mould with the same attitude to the game and the same potential to be a game-changer.Lately Alves seems to have lost a bit of that amazing engine he used to have and he still doesnt cross the ball with the quality that matches his play leading up to it. He is also slightly more prone to making mistakes than Marcelo and if I had to pick one over the other I would opt for the Real Madrid defender, simply because he is more important to Real than Alves is to Barcelona.2. The BBC v MSN Real Madrids Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale You have to go back to April 2012 and the Mourinho era to find the last time Real Madrid won a league match at the Camp Nou - and its worth remembering that they have never beaten Barcelona when Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have been on the pitch together. The two sides have met three times with the BBC line up in place, and lost every time.That said, if the rest of the side remains solid and balanced this is a triumvirate that can give any defence - including Barcelonas - sleepless nights. How Barca thrashed Real We look back at Barcelonas big November win at the Bernabeu Occasionally Barcelona - partly out of laziness, partly because theyre pretty good at it - abandon their possession game and look for a more direct box-to-box approach to their opponents goal. Nothing wrong with that, except that it can leave them more vulnerable because they cannot recover the ball so quickly, neither can they work so well as a unit together to regain possession.If that happens it could open the door for Bale and Benzema - probably even more than Cristiano - to exploit the situation. Ronaldo might well be the player to score but in terms of creating something should Barcelona go for this approach, this could be a match tailor made for his two colleagues up front. Ivan Rakitic is a key man in the centre of the pitch for Barcelona Mind you, if youre looking for anyone guaranteed to give just about every defence in the world an attack of the vapours then the Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar combination that Barcelona put out each week stands apart from just about anything on show in football today.With the three amigos up front this is a Barcelona side that frequently lose control of a game, and are happy to do so, safe in the knowledge that eventually the ball will get to one of their three assassins with the result that something is always likely to happen.In terms of firepower available to them this Barcelona sides big guns are bigger than, not just Saturdays opponents, but any opponents, anywhere. If I had to choose I would have the MSN. WATCH: Classic El Clasico Check out highlights from some memorable recent meetings between Spains top two 3. Real Madrid centre-backs and CasemiroIf Barcelona are going to look to control the game a bit more - and bearing in mind they are playing at home so they should certainly be able to do so - then the key to the match could well be the performances of the two centre-backs of Real Madrid and defensive midfielder Casemiro, who will play just in front of them.How they defend against any such onslaughts will be crucial not least because its also safe to assume that for at least some of the time Casemiro will probably be gainfully employed covering Marcelos back as the full-back makes his customary advances into enemy territory.Similarly, he will also have his work cut out covering for Toni Kroos and Luka Moric, should they decide to venture forward as well. Carlos Casemiro (R) could be a key figure on Saturday Casemiro is a long way from being at the level of Sergio Busquets, although to be fair to him, the way Busquets is playing at the moment, who is?What Casemiro does do, however, is provide the work rate, the perspiration, if not necessarily the inspiration, that this Real Madrid side needs if it is to function anywhere near its best.Personally, I dont think he is quite good enough to stay in that position next season and I feel that Madrid will be looking to strengthen in that area sooner rather than later. For now, however, his performance this weekend could be crucial.4. Inside midfielders Luka Modric will try to stop Barcelonas midfield on Saturday In terms of the inside midfielders it is a straight battle between Real Madrids Kroos and Modric on one hand and Barcelonas Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic on the other.Modric is a fine player who always looks to control the game but has all too frequently this season been left to do so on his own.For that Kroos must take his share of the blame because for much of the season he has shown himself to be less effective going forward, too slow in the build up, and below par defensively. He is not having the best of times and I think thats partly because he is not enjoying his football at Madrid.He isnt a number four in front of the defence, which he enjoyed doing at Bayern sometimes, and he also seems to lack the freedom he needs when going forward to make a real impact, not least because he has to cover for the lack of defensive work done by the likes of Cristiano and Benzema. Ivan Rakitic is a key man in the centre of the pitch for Barcelona He looks to me to be a man not too happy in his work. In an ideal world he probably never wanted to leave Bayern Munich and Im sure these days his mind is elsewhere and he is thinking about new projects.Modric of course will have to work his socks off. He was one of the players who defended Rafa Benitez inside the camp but he is mature enough to realise that its now time to move on and in fact he has been saying some very complimentary things about Zinedine Zidane lately.He is the key figure for Madrid in terms of control of the game, but I cant help but feel he wont be able to do it by himself.Rakitic and Iniesta are a perfect fit for Barcelona. When Iniesta is on song, its about as good as you can get from a midfielder. Enrique v Zidane Ahead of El Clasico, we compare the managers records in the big game This season the club has made a conscious decision to use his talents more sparingly with a view to getting the very best from him in major games like this and also for the latter stages of the Champions League campaign that are just around the corner.So far we have seen, occasionally, almost in cameo roles, the best Iniesta ever and he is in the view of some, the best midfielder ever to grace the Nou Camp, which, when you look at some of the other contenders, is saying something.In that vital inside midfield slot he is ably assisted by the excellent Rakitic, who is now adding goals to the work rate he has always provided. He is a man who has readily accepted and fitted into his new role at Barcelona.Rakitics new job requires a huge amount of running and effort, primarily because it comes with the territory with any side that plays such an open game. It is very different to the role he had at Sevilla that saw him as the main instigator of any attacks and the sides true leader.He is having a fantastic season and from an inside midfield point of view this Barcelona side is currently far superior both mentally and tactically. 5. The collective answersSo whats going to happen?Its impossible not to be impressed with a Barcelona side that can switch with such ease from a counter attacking game to one of control via possession.Thats the good news, although I still believe in terms of their tactical levels this is not a side that possess the same acumen required to break down a deep-lying defence that they had during the reign of Pep Guardiola.At times, however, they are so comfortable with the notion of getting the ball up front quickly that they can easily lose control.The plus side of that is the addition to their already varied box of tricks of a number nine in Suarez, who has added this weapon of counter attack to their armoury. From an offensive point of view this is probably the final piece in the jigsaw and what almost certainly makes them, currently, the best side in Europe. Real Madrid lost 4-0 at home to Barcelona in November As for Real Madrid, Zidane started with the idea of keeping control of the ball and recovering it high up the pitch, only to abandon it when it dawned on him that he didnt have the players either capable, willing, or both, to adopt such a game plan.He realises that this means his side now looks to the performances of individuals rather than rely on the team ethic. As a result much of the collective plans envisaged by his predecessor have been sacrificed.The addition of Casemiro, and also on occasions Danilo, means that a modicum of defensive balance can be restored but it remains nonetheless a team that doesnt pressure well, doesnt attack cleverly and doesnt defend as a team either.That is Real Madrids biggest downfall particularly in the big games and thats why I believe Barcelona will maintain their winning record over their main rivals.Watch Barcelona v Real Madrid, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Saturday. Or watch live for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: How Barca thrashed Real WATCH: Classic El Clasicos WATCH: Top 10 Clasico goals Enrique v Zidane Fake Angels Jerseys . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Los Angeles Angels Gear . 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STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Andy Cannizaro, a former Major Leaguer and one of the rising coaching stars in college baseball, has been named Mississippi States 17th head baseball coach, Director of Athletics John Cohen announced Saturday.We are thrilled to welcome Andy to the Mississippi State baseball family, Cohen said. When you look at all of the characteristics we need in a baseball coach at Mississippi State, Andy is the perfect fit. He has an outstanding resume as a recruiter and scout in evaluating and developing talent. Hes been around some of the best minds in all of baseball during his college and professional career. His personality and knowledge of the game will benefit our players.Cannizaro will be formally introduced at a 3 p.m. press conference Monday in the Bryce Griffis Boardroom at the Palmeiro Center. The public is welcome to attend. It will be streamed live on SEC Network+ via WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.Cannizaro has excelled in identifying talent at every stop of his career, including six years as a scout for the New York Yankees and two years as a Southeastern Conference assistant coach. Seven of the players he drafted for the Yankees from 2010-14 reached the Major Leagues, including Bulldog greats Jacob Lindgren and Jonathan Holder.I am extremely honored and humbled by the opportunity to become the head baseball coach at Mississippi State and would like to thank President Keenum and John Cohen for trusting me to continue the success of this historic program into the future, Cannizaro said. My family and I could not be more excited to become a part of the Starkville community. Our team and our staff understand the tradition and pride in Mississippi State baseball and will be relentless in our pursuit of our first national championship.The 37-year-old arrived in Starkville after serving as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU under head coach Paul Mainieri since July 2014. Cannizaro made a tremendous impact in two seasons with a dynamic ability to develop hitters and an aggressive base running prowess. He coached six Tiger batters to All-America recognition and 11 hitters were drafted. Five were selected in the first five rounds.One of his top protégés, Alex Bregman, became the highest drafted batter in LSU history, going No. 2 overall to the Houston Astros in the 2015 MLB Draft. It took Bregman, a two-time All-American and Golden Spikes Award finalist, just one year to reach the Big Leagues.In 2015, Cannizaro made an immediate impact as the Tigers finished among the NCAAs top seven in five different offensive categories. LSU led the nation in base hits (762), while finishing third in stolen bases (130), third in doubles (146), fourth in batting average (.314) and seventh in runs scored (451). The total stolen bases were the most by the program in 28 yeaars since the 1987 club tallied a school-record 156.dddddddddddd He helped guide LSU to an SEC championship and the 2015 College World Series. Seven of Cannizaros hitters were drafted that year, including Bregman.Cannizaros leadership during the 2016 campaign might have been his finest work. Despite losing eight starters from their prolific lineup of 2015, the Tigers still managed to boast one of the SECs top offenses. LSU finished the year ranked first in the SEC in stolen bases (95), second in runs (426), second in triples (21), third in scoring (6.5), third in on-base percentage (0.385) and third in slugging percentage (0.422). The Tigers reached an NCAA Super Regional and four players were selected in the 2016 MLB Draft.A record-breaking base stealer as a player, Cannizaros aggressiveness on the base paths has carried over into his coaching career. Since 2015, no SEC team has stolen more bases than the Tigers (225). That two-year total is 31 better than the SECs next closest, Vanderbilt (194).Before his time at LSU, Cannizaro worked as a Yankees scout from 2009 through 2014, evaluating and recruiting amateur players in preparation for the annual MLB Draft. He was the Yankees official representative at the 2013 and 2014 MLB Drafts. He also worked as the advance scout for the team as it prepared for the 2011 and 2012 playoffs.Cannizaro was the Yankees seventh-round selection in the 2001 MLB Draft, and he played in the organization for seven seasons, reaching the Major League level in September 2006. He joined the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 and was on the clubs big-league roster for the first two months of the season. He later played for the AAA affiliates of the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox before retiring from the game in September 2009.During his Major League career, Cannizaro played and learned under Hall of Famer Joe Torre and World Series champion Joe Maddon.Cannizaro, a four-year starter at shortstop for Tulane (1998-2001), led the 2001 Green Wave squad to the first College World Series appearance in school history, batting a remarkable .395 with 118 hits, 34 doubles, 70 RBI and 52 stolen bases.A two-time all-America and three-time all-Conference USA performer, Cannizaro is Tulanes all-time leader in games played (248), at-bats (1,030), hits (350), doubles (85) and stolen bases (128). He was inducted in 2007 into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame. Cannizaro remains the C-USA all-time leader in career hits and career stolen bases.A native of Mandeville, La., Cannizaro graduated from Tulane in December 2001 with a bachelor of arts in sociology/business minor.He and his wife, Allison, are the parents of two children, Gabrielle (6) and Pierce (3). ' ' '