6 points is a pretty big gap already. Gotta admit Real is looking better this season so far.

So, Kaká hasn't been playing for a month now. Another injury, they say. Good thing we didn't sign him?

I don't wish ill on him, but I am so glad we sold him and didn't buy him back.

Really enjoying Barca struggle while Real thrive.

I don't have anything against Barca as such, I just find it annoying how they can cheat and be disrespectful and it's ignored. If Real do it, they're villified to no end. Real are usually punished for their cheap tactics as well by having players sent off, Barca usually get away with dives and are often rewarded with a penalty or red card for the opposition.

Also, as much as some dislike the praise Jose gets, the hate he gets is far more OTT. Mainly because people like myself and Blue will praise him after he does something good. Most people will insult him after not only doing badly, but for not being the best, which is just ridiculous for me.

We often disagree but we're on the same page with this one.

I'm not a fan of Real, per se, but I have to say I've grown to like them a lot and grown to dislike Barca a hell of a lot.

I also still believe, controversy aside, that Mourinho is the best manager around other than Hiddink.

You and me both, and I've been saying it for years, just usually a tirade follows claiming Madrid/Ronaldo fan boys. Rather than the actual point on the issues mentioned.

They aren't struggling, you know...

Away from home I think it's fair to say they are. At home they are unstoppable though.

A team like Madrid can stop Barca ... After what I saw at San Siro against them, if we can do it I'm willing to wager on Madrid winning this time around. Not taking anything away from any opponent, but the Catalans seem to have dropped a notch this season, or it might just be too early for them? For the sack of keeping this league interesting, I hope Madrid win the next Classico and maintain a lead.

I still think struggling is too strong a word to describe this season's Barca. they have won only 2 games less than Madrid. but I think el classico is make or break for them.

And Madrid have a game in hand. Madrid have also played 3 home games less than Barca. Barca's away record isn't even average, it's terrible.

If Madrid win their match in hand, then I don't think that would be the case. The simple fact is that Barcelona have a little less shine and glow to them than last season. Whether that puts them equal or better than Real Madrid is another thing, but that little fact remains that they don't look as unbeatable/invincible as they looked an year or two before.

Sure, they can win both El Classicos and get even, but they can draw one and still be behind.

I didn't realise they play each other this weekend. Next 5 games defines the season, in my opinion.

Madrid
Madrid-Barca
Sevilla-Madrid
Madrid-Granada
Mallorca-Madrid
Madrid-Bilbao

Barca
Madrid-Barca
Espanyol-Barca
Barca-Betis
Malaga-Barca
Villarreal-Barca

Barca;s awa form really to be put to the test.

They are, by their standards. This is the first season they've started to look mortal.

Maybe Guardiola will finally realize to sign one or two defenders, instead of playing Mascherano and Busquetes as CBs.

Baffles me too. Why are Pique and Puyol on the bench anyway?

they wont be next week.Atleast not pique imo

Game doesn't really matter, if Barca win the world's media will announce 'they are back, no one's getting near them, might as well give them the league immediately'. If Madrid wins, it will be a case of 'it's a confidence boost but they are obviously going to slip up and Barca will capatalise on it'.

Barca are in a win-win situation.

Just 3 points at the end of the day.

Not really. If Madrid wins, I don't see them losing the 9 points advantage, especially with how they play this season.
If Barca lose, many people wiould celebrate how their cycle is over and stuff like that. The media is already talking about the power change recently.

Maybe it's just the English media who massively overhype Barca then because all I've heard this week is how Barca are going to come back and then we're going to see this push off Barca's season.

Oh, and they're all claiming Barca are the underdogs, so the world's best team ever are underdogs? Have it one way or the other.

Barca of the past few years have been one of the great teams of all time. This season, as happens in football, it's started to fade just a bit, coinciding with Real coming together.

The La Liga bunch on Sky Sports are annoying when it comes to Barca. A few of them are pretty neutral, but the 2/3 they regularly use to commentate on Barca game are so far up them it's unreal. They were mentioning how the team they put out in CL matchday 6 would be a match for most teams. Get a grip.

I'm guessing they're the main source for your Barça dislike.

Gerry Armstrong is the worst, it's embarrassing. I commented on that last year how bad he is. Even if one of the Barca guys went down holding an imaginary card he praised them for it, saying the Madrid players deserved it.

I wouldn't say main, but big. I really dislike those individuals who conveniently find it easy enough to jump on the flavor of the month (year, or in this case, last five years) and ride with the wind. They have little individuality of their own, whether they are general fans or media pundits. Whatever they say about Barcelona, makes them look good.

I can only imagine a lot of these who are harping about Barcelona were following/supporting other clubs a decade or so back when Barcelona was not the juggernaut it is now. But hey, that's the good thing about convenience. It makes hopping around bandwagons easy enough. Like I said, easy enough to make someone look good while praising something and the majority agreeing. Whether it be Barcelona, Messi, or anything else, really.

Who knows PSG grow very big in a few years, and people start harping about the French club like it's caviar!

So!

What are your predictions for tonight's game?

And who do you think will come out on top (regardless of the result), Ronaldo or Messi?

-

Mine: a draw | Messi (it's just safer to bet on him to deliver in big games IMO)

I hope it'll be a classic Classico, with lots of goals, yellows, reds, Mourinho gestures, Barca theatrics, etc.

Madrid win I hope. Don't know what to predict though. If Barca go with a back 3, then Madrid to win. Back 4, Barca or draw.

I hate when Barca vs. Real Madrid turns into a Ronaldo vs. Messi debate.IMO,it's not enough to say whose the better of the two.I'm with Madrid in this one too ;p

Totally agreed, that's no way to decide. Of course, CRON is the better player by a (country) mile. Hehe.

I think Madrid will win this one.

Benzema starts instead of Higuain. Ridiculous.

Although,Higuain is a scoring machine.Benzema works better with the team,and participates in the build up play more.And,since Madrid plays with only one target man,it's a tough decision.

BENZEMA!!!!!!!!!!!1

How ironic haha

No idea what Valdes was thinking there.

Good effort Cristiano.

Benzema being good once again

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Sanchez,serie A product.

Alves makes a foul that even the Barca bias comms say should be a yellow card and Barca get the free kick!? What the hell!?

Ronaldo has been a ghost so far.

I would say the same about Messi.. but his lack of class got him a yellow.

Start the debate, then complain about the debate, good job

Only just realised Fabregas was playing!

Ref went to book Messi, then realise he already had a yellow. Disgrace.

Barca's best player this season has been the referee.

Messi just made another foul on the break... ignored again.

It's absolutely ridiculous.