Tebas: “El Clasico is bigger than Ronaldo-Messi maintains”

Javier Tebas believes Barcelona versus Real Madrid remains superior to the personal battle between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The LaLiga president told Omnisport: "I think Cristiano and Messi are the ones losing something without being in this Clasico, they won't be there. The Clasico doesn't lose because I think it will be at a maximum level with two great teams and I think those teams are greater than the players. I think it will be the first time without Cristiano and Messi and it will be a good one as a strategic thing "The Clasico is one of the star products in LaLiga. We are looking for more matches to be star products but it's true Barcelona versus Real Madrid is a great product which we have to work with and improve in order to reach all our supporters over the world." Tebas has no concerns about the technology playing an influential role in the Clasico, though. "I am not afraid of VAR [being used in El Clasico for the first time]," he said. "We have been working with VAR a lot. We have been working with the referees a lot, so I am not afraid. It's obvious that I am a bit concerned because everything is massive in a Clasico, so they will exaggerate everything, but I think VAR will work really well during this Clasico as it has done during all the matches."

BREAKING: Manchester United complete signing of ex-Newcastle ace