Mourinho to play one striker

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will choose between Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzemafor a solo striking role against Barcelona on Saturday.

GettyImagesIn Higuain and Benzema, Real Madrid boast an embarrassment of riches up front

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The two La Liga giants go head-to-head inEl Clasico this weekend, with Real, who boast a game in hand, seeking to maintain or extend their current three-point advantage over champions Barcelona.

Both Higuain and Benzema have been in excellent goalscoring form this season, the former netting 12 league goals to date and the latter seven, but Mourinho only intends to select one of the forwards for the clash against Barca.

"Both of them will not play. It will be Cristiano and Di Maria and Benzema or Higuain," Mourinho said.

Higuain was on target in Real's 3-0 victory over Ajax in the Champions League during midweek, but the Argentina international is uncertain if he has done enough to start on Saturday.

"I don't know. It is not my decision. I am happy helping the team and now I am going to rest and then think about the next game," Higuain said.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has attempted to play down the significance of El Clasico, despite suggestions a success for Real could prove decisive in where the title ends up come the end of the season.

"It is one more game and there is not much time until it starts," said Mourinho. "That is normal for us. For everyone else it is a different game, but for us life continues as normal."