Guillem Balague says Barca may be in the unfamiliar role of underdogs in Saturday's El Clasico.
El Clasico promises to be a thriller, says Guillem
It's the most watched club game in world football and this Saturday regular La Liga watchers on Sky Sports will be joined by millions tuning in for the first Real Madrid v FC Barcelona clash of the season.
So, what do we need to know to get the most out of the game? Here's Guillem Balague's indispensable five-point guide to the biggest game of the season so far...
Once you've digested this, make sure you check out Guillem's 'Legends Lunch', as he, John Toshack, Albert Ferrer and Michael Laudrup take an extended look at El Clasico!
Form
Real have a three-point lead over Barca with a game in hand. At home, the hosts are the only side with a 100% home record in La Liga and after winning their fourteenth consecutive game at the weekend with a 3-0 victory over Sporting Gijon, go into the game on the verge of a record breaking run of victories.
At the Bernabeu, Mourinho's side have scored an astonishing 28 goals in six games and they possess the best offensive stats in La Liga this season; in contrast, the visitors have the best defensive record in La Liga (two clichés about Mourinho's negative approach and Barcelona's inability to defend dismantled in one fell swoop!).
At home, Barcelona appear invincible - nine games played, 39 goals scored and none conceded - but away from home, it's a very different story. Outside the Camp Nou, Barcelona were defeated by Getafe in their last away game and they've managed just two wins out of six (both 1-0s over strugglers Granada and Gijon). Without their home fans behind them, Guardiola's side have scored just eight and conceded seven - and Messi has scored only once on the road in contrast with the 16 he's scored at the Camp Nou. Barcelona dropped just 14 points last season before clinching the title; this time they've already dropped 11.
Performance
Barca bounced back from that defeat at Getafe with a 4-0 win over Rayo and a 5-0 win over Levante last weekend; both at home. Against Levante, the presence of Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez and the latest talent to emerge from La Masia, Isaac Cuenca, all provided depth and penetration to a Barcelona side that has lacked some of that spark, that intensity, pace and aggression that is key to making their possession based style and high pressure successful.
Keep an eye on Cuenca in particular; he's an old fashioned style winger who broke into the side in the absence of Pedro. The 20-year-old is excellent at taking on opponents in one-on-one situations, a great dribbler and crosser of the ball - but his inexperience may make him too much of a gamble for a Clasico at the Bernabeu.
That lack of intensity has been a problem for Barca this season and they've lacked that edge that has made them arguably the best side this generation will ever see; but a trip to the Bernabeu, against the old enemy, could be the spark that re-ignites the flame.
Madrid, in contrast, are at their highest level since Mourinho took charge and playing better than on any of the seven occasions they have faced Barcelona under the Portuguese.
Their 3-0 win over Sporting at the weekend was a hard fought, physical battle that saw Madrid individual qualities separates the two sides. But make no mistake, Madrid are not a team of individuals - they are a team in every sense
