Sunday will be witness to the 259th version of the El Clasico, and the stakes could not have been much higher.
Real Madrid are at the top of the La Liga standings with 70 points from 28 games. They are four points clear of third placed Barcelona.
A win would propel the Galacticos seven points clear, and would effectively crush any hopes that the Catalans might have to take the crown. A loss, on the other hand, will bring Barca within touching distance, just one point behind.
With nine remaining games, such a development would make the rest of the season a delicious three-way battle with second-placed Atletico Madrid thrown in the mix.
Real Madrid are in a ruthless form at the moment. German club Schalke 04 would vouch for the fact after being mercilessly beaten 9-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo is having an exceptional season and has already notched 41 goals in 37 matches for his club. Karim Benzema, who is expected to be back this weekend, after a collision with Ronaldo in last weekend’s match against Malaga left him with a dead leg, has proved himself to be the first choice striker in Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
Midfielder Modric is having a wonderful season with Los Blancos, and will surely be making a start in this game. Along with Gareth Bale, Isco and Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid are in an extremely formidable form at this time.
Barcelona, who are not quite at their best this season and have lost three of their last seven matches, showed what they can do last weekend, when they routed Osasuna 7-0 in their La Liga encounter at the Nou Camp. Lionel Messi played a big part in the annihilation with a hat-trick to his name.
However, Barca’s away form leaves much to be desired as they have lost both of their last away games. Manager Gerardo Martino has a big choice to make for the position of the striker in the team. Neymar is not playing at his best, and seems to have lost a bit of confidence since Messi’s injury.
The Catalans would like to repeat the performance of the last El Clasico in October last year which they won 2-1 at Nou Camp. Though going by recent form, Sunday is Real Madrid’s to lose.