It is, without a doubt, the biggest club game in world football. A rivalry based on political hatred and a civil war, Barcelona against Real Madrid is technically an all-Spanish clash, but those in Catalonia would hardly see it that way.
A bitter rivalry always guarantees an intense atmosphere, but for the first time in a number of years, it seems as if we could get a superb footballing clash of cultures when these two sides meet in the Nou Camp on Monday night.
Barcelona have been top dogs in Spain and Europe over the last three years as their intricate passing style has swept aside all opponents. Everyone, that is, with the exception of Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese masterminded Inter Milan’s Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona last season, as he struck the latest blow in a long-running dispute between himself and the entire Catalan club.
Barca’s former employee, as Mourinho was when he was Bobby Robson’s interpreter at the Nou Camp – a job title that is still used to disparage him – has always taken great delight in his successes with Chelsea and Inter against Barca, which is one of the reasons why he felt unable to turn down Real Madrid when they came calling in the summer.
And Mourinho is already working his magic in the capital. Bidding to become the first manager to win the league in England, Italy and Spain, he is integrating his summer signings into a team that was already one of the best around, albeit underachieving.
The two German midfielders, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, are differing players, but they complement each other, for example. Ozil is the playmaker, entrusted with ferrying the ball between midfield and attack where Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria are instructed to strut their stuff.
Khedira, meanwhile, acts as a defensive shield, screening the defence alongside Xabi Alonso. So far it has been hugely successful. Madrid are top of the table with 32 points from 12 games, and have already qualified for the Champions League’s last 16.
They may have courted controversy with the time-wasting tactics that saw Alonso and Sergio Ramos sent-off against Ajax in midweek, but this is a team that is in fine form.
However, Barcelona are hardly off the pace themselves. In a league which is only ever a two-horse race, they are one point behind Madrid and an astonishing seven ahead of third-placed Villarreal.
And that is why this clash is already being billed as a title-decider, and that the points will depend on which of the two leading protagonists steps up to the plate. For Barca, there is Lionel Messi.
The Argentine has 13 La Liga goals in 12 games, and has scored in Barca’s last ten matches. That isn’t a bad record, but neither is Cristiano Ronaldo’s, with the Portuguese banging in 15 in the league for Real.
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The smart money has to be on both scoring at the Nou Camp in a game which has been put back from its’ normal Saturday night slot due to local elections and will take place on Monday.
In a game which will be nip and tuck, it then depends on which of the other superstars can make the difference – and back David Villa to pay off a sizeable chunk of his transfer fee by firing home the winner as, for once, Barca send Mourinho home with his tail between his legs.
