It is hard to argue against the notion that the two best club sides in the world at the moment are separated by just over 390 Spanish miles.
La Liga and Champions League giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are once again standing tall on their domestic and continental assaults with a number of world-class talent oozing in both squads.
Under respective coaches Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, El Clasico is without doubt one of the most eagerly-awaited contests when the fixture lists are announced in the summer and it has proved no different this time around.
Finally, after 12 games of another explosive campaign, the powerhouses are set to lock horns on Monday night at Camp Nou and a huge audience is set to be gripped by the action.
Madrid lead the way by a single point at the top of the table with ten wins and two draws while Barca have claimed the same amount of victories, but a shock home reversal to Hercules proved they are human after all.
With Lionel Messi, David Villa, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta and Xavi just a few household names that immediately roll off the tongue, the Catalan kings may well fancy their chances of shutting up the Special One at the start of the new week.
But the former Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan supremo has a wealth of option himself with Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Iker Casillas, Mesut Ozil and Ricardo Carvalho set to be showcased at Europe’s biggest stadium that is certainly fit for the occasion.
All eyes are on the El Clasico derby on Monday evening as Barcelona and Real Madrid lock horns, but can you pick a winner? – Latest Football Betting
With Barca the two-time reigning champions, Los Galacticos have it all to do if they are to prise the crown away from them this term.
But with summer signing Carvalho proving to be an exceptional addition to eradicate what was once their Achilles heel – their defence – things for the Santiago Bernabeu outfit are looking rosy.
Dubbed a re-enactment of the Spanish Civil War, the fierce battle will be the 161st league meeting and Blaugrana gained the upper hand last season.
The most recent meeting, at the Bernabeu resulted in a 2-0 win for the visitors with goals in either half from Pedro and Messi securing the huge victory on April 10 and, on November 29 last year – exactly a year on from this season’s first meeting – was settled by a fine volley from the now departed Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
