It is without a doubt one of the most watched games in the world.
In each Clasico, nearly 650 million insiders observe with attention the meeting between the two biggest clubs in the history of Spanish football.
After a sluggish start to the season and a delicate fall, the two teams have returned to the top of the standings, narrowly dominated by Atlético.
A meeting with challenges which should offer, this Saturday evening, a beautiful spectacle to the aficionados.
So why should we follow this 246th Clasico?
Because the head of La Liga is at stake.
Second in the championship with 65 points, Barca are only one unit away from Atlético, which is traveling to Seville this Sunday to meet Betis.
Especially since the Colchoneros have just lost Luis Suarez (19 goals in 26 league games this season) injured in training.
Behind, Real (63 points) pushes and remains on three victories in the league.
In case of victories, the Madrilenians would join “Atléti” in terms of number of points.
In short, it's a big part of the title that is played tonight.
Because both teams are in good shape.
After a delicate start to the season, Ronald Koeman's men have not lost in La Liga since mid-December.
Eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 of the Champions League, the Barcelona have a series of successes and, unlike their opponents of the day, do not suffer from the chain of European matches.
But Zinédine Zidane, the Madrid coach, seems rather well to take his workforce, crowned with a new success in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League, against Liverpool (3-1).
“Lately, we are really very good, regular… And not just with the ball, we have made a lot of progress defensively too, confirmed the Madrid coach at a press conference.
Now we know very well that despite everything we have done so far, with difficulties, we will still have to play a great game tomorrow.
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Because the French attackers could be decisive.
Dembélé on one side, Benzema on the other.
We should attend a beautiful duel between the 23-year-old winger, freed from all physical discomfort, and the former Lyon.
Dembélé delivered Barca again on Monday against Valladolid, scoring the game's only goal in the 90th minute.
KB9, he continues to panic the counters this season and mark the history of Real.
Author of 24 goals this season, including 18 in the league, he also distinguished himself as a teammate, with 6 assists.
Antoine Griezmann, just a dad for the third time at the start of the week, could start on the bench.
Note the absence of Raphaël Varane on the Madrid side.
The defender, who has already missed the game against Liverpool on Tuesday, tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week and remains in isolation.
Because it might be Messi's last Clasico.
At 33, Leo Messi is playing his 45th game against Real Madrid, equaling the record of injured Sergio Ramos.
Above all, at the end of the contract in June, Lionel Messi will play his potential last Clasico.
“Let him stay in Barcelona, he is very well there!
It's good for La Liga ”, however insisted Zinédine Zidane in a press conference on the eve of the match.
Already the best passer (14 assists) and best scorer in the history of the Clasicos with 26 goals, the Argentine remains on a bad run, since he has not scored in the last 6 confrontations against the club of the Spanish capital.
A meeting with suspense and which, even private of public, should in turn mark the history of the Clasicos.
For the occasion, Barca have also planned to unveil their fourth shirt.
A rather classic model but proudly marked with Catalan colors.