Antoine Griezmann believes Barcelona can beat Real Madrid in Sunday's Clasico despite the Catalans playing without Lionel Messi.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ESPN FC, the Atletico Madrid striker said he's looking forward to watching the match and that Barcelona are still talented enough to win without their injured superstar.
"It's going to be a great match like all the Clasicos," Griezmann said. "It is a shame that Messi is not available for Barca, but they still have the players to win the game. Madrid is in need of a win to go forward, It will be a nice game to watch."
Both Madrid sides are struggling by their standards in La Liga so far this year, Griezmann's Atleti sitting in fifth place on 16 points and Los Blancos two points adrift of their city rivals in seventh.
But the France international said he is not concerned about his team's spot in the table at this early stage of the season, especially with powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona also stumbling at times so far.
"We are also there fighting like every year," Griezmann said. "Last year we were second and we have to continue like this. We must keep working and improve on the pitch so that we can be there, close to [Barcelona and Real Madrid].
"We have to have that consistency of always being among the top three. We've been doing it for many years. And then, of course, in one [specific] year everything can happen and especially in this one where everyone has started a little bit like that, dropping points.
"We have to take advantage of it and see where that takes us."