Real Madrid's title hopes are on the line when they visit Barcelona for the biggest game in world football on Sunday.
Real Coach Jose Mourinho has given El Clasico that moniker, and few would disagree.
“When Madrid play Barcelona, the world stops. It is a game we love to play – for us and for them.”
Even at this early stage the pressure is on the reigning champions, who trail their Catalan nemesis by eight points.
“If they get a draw it wouldn't be too bad, but if the difference is 11 points then it is going to be seven long months,” opined former Los Blancos boss John Toshack.
Both Barca and Real go into the game off the back of comfortable Champions League wins, over Benfica and Ajax respectively, but purely in terms of form the Blaugrana – with their 100 per cent La Liga record – have to start as favourites.
However with midfielders Alex Song and Javier Mascherano likely to be patrolling Barca's central defence, Cristiano Ronaldo and co. may well fancy their chances of replicating April's 2-1 win at Camp Nou.
Kick off: Sunday October 7, 18.50 (BST)
