When Barcelona and Real Madrid face each other, the rest of planet football comes to a standstill to marvel and watch the action that unfolds.
1,148 days since the last Clasico at Camp Nou
On this particular occasion, there is the Spanish top-flight title on the line, and Barcelona know that even a draw at Camp Nou will see them retain the trophy that they won 12 months ago, leaving Los Blancos to go a second season without any silverware.
It's also the first time in 1,148 days that a Barca vs Real Madrid game will take place at Camp Nou, ensuring a festival atmosphere in the stands from the first minute.
Not since 19 March 2023, when Xavi Hernandez was coach, have the Blaugranes played Real at their true home, and on that occasion, a 92nd-minute winner from Franck Kessie gave Barca the victory.
Problems in the Real Madrid dressing room
The lead-up to this particular edition of the game has been shrouded in controversy, with Real captain Fede Valverde and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni known to have been involved in a series of disagreements which ultimately ended with the Uruguayan in hospital and out of the match.
He's joined on the sidelines by Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal, Arda Guler and Rodrygo, and it's still touch and go as to whether Kylian Mbappe will play any part as he's still recovering from a hamstring injury.
Perhaps of more concern to the Frenchman will be an 'Mbappe out' petition that has so far reached over 18 million signatures.
Barcelona have some big absences of their own to deal with, not least that of talisman and chief Real tormentor, Lamine Yamal.
The youngster is out for the season after injuring himself whilst scoring the winner against Celta Vigo from the penalty spot a couple of weeks ago.
A chance to win the title against the eternal rival
Long-term injury absentee Andreas Christensen is the only other concern for Hansi Flick, who should have Raphinha back to terrorise Real's right side.
A win for Barcelona wouldn't only land them the title, either. It would also bring them level on the all-time head-to-head record, which Real Madrid currently leads by one.
Should Hansi Flick's side get at least a point, he will become the fourth Barca coach this century to win back-to-back LaLiga titles in his first two seasons at the club.
By contrast, it would seem that Alvaro Arbeloa will be following Xabi Alonso out of the Santiago Bernabeu exit door at season's end, with rumours of a return for Jose Mourinho getting stronger by the day.
Barca have won all their home league games in 2025/26
The hosts are in superb form. They are currently on a 10-game winning run in LaLiga, whilst they've also won all 17 of their home league games in 2025/26, scoring 52 goals and conceding just nine.
Despite not having Lamine's creativity and purpose to call upon, Barca can still look to Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski to be game-changers. Torres' 15 goals are just one behind Lamine's total, whilst Lewandowski has 13.
Real have only lost three away games this season, drawing four and winning the other 10, and they'll look to replicate their 2-1 win over their eternal rivals from earlier this season.
Mbappe has been a clear attacking threat for them, scoring 24 times, of which 11 opened the scoring. The Frenchman remains at the top of the league scoring charts with only four games left for others to overhaul his total.
Real are still dangerous
Though Real are riven with internal turmoil at present, they have players such as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, who can turn a match in an instant, and they certainly won't want their biggest rivals to be able to enjoy a title procession at their expense.
Madrid will be comforted too by having won eight of the last 12 Clasicos, and they'll know that their hosts have won just two of the last six league games between the two Spanish behemoths that have been played in Barcelona.
Oddly enough, Real haven't lost an away league match played on a Sunday since the last time they met Barca, a game in which the visitors took a 2-0 lead before being pegged back by Barca's four-goal blast before half time, in a game that ended 4-3 to the Catalans.
From Barca's perspective, most of their injured players are back now, and they continue to play with such bravery and confidence under Hansi Flick, even at the expense of conceding goals because of the high defensive line that they continue to use.
It's been 21 games since the last goalless draw between the teams, and in seven of Madrid’s last eight league matches, both teams have scored.
Strap yourselves in...
