Benzema says El Clasico is still the best game in football even without Messi.

Despite Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema insists that the El Clasico remains the best game in club football. 

On October 24, both LaLiga rivals meet at the Camp Nou. 

Madrid is now in first place, with Barcelona in ninth. 

Following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid in 2018, some have questioned the two Clasico heavyweights' current status.

Benzema, on the other hand, believes the two teams still have enough quality to compete. 

"It's still the same for me." It is still the best football match ever played. 

It makes no difference who is present, who has left, or who will join. Real-Barca has a long and illustrious history. 

Before [Zinedine] Zidane, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, and [Samuel] Eto'o, there was [Zinedine] Zidane, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, and [Samuel] Eto'o. In an exclusive interview with ESPN's Julien Laurens, Benzema said, "Real-Barca will always be Real-Barca."