Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa has stated his belief that Lionel Messi will be on the pitch at the Camp Nou when Barcelona host los Blancos in el Clasico.

The 22-year-old picked up a leg injury at the weekend against Athletic Bilbao, but rumours are suggesting that it is not as serious as first believed.

"I think Messi will be there," Arbeloa told Antena 3.

"I have no doubts - I believe he will be there against us, for sure."

However, it is not good news for Arbeloa himself, as he is likely to be given the task of trying to stop the flair-packed Argentine.

"I don't think that there is a player in the world who is able to stop Messi," he said. "It's done from having a lot of help from your team-mates, from him having a bad day and from you doing very well.

"There are a lot of factors that you have to have in order to stop him turning the match. It's difficult for a player to stop Messi."

On the other hand, los Merengues should be able to call on the services of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger has been out with an ankle injury recently but has declared that he will do anything in order to play against the Blaugrana.

Arbeloa believes that, while his inclusion will be important, his side have shown that they can win without 'CR9'.

"The two are very important for their teams, but Barca have won without Messi and we have won without Cristiano," the former Liverpool man said.

"They are the two best in the world, but I hope that Cristiano is there, although having spent nearly two months out it will be difficult for him to play a whole match."