It is hard to escape the sensation that the forthcoming edition of El Clasicolacks the tension of years gone by.
The fact that Barcelona have a 10-point gap over Real Madrid is certainly a contributing factor, as is the memory of how comprehensively one side out-played the other in the last instalment, a 4-0 win for Luis Enrique's men in the Bernabeu on Nov. 21. The lengthy international break has also played its part, preventing the usual kind of steady build-up, as players slowly returned from duty elsewhere.
For Barcelona the situation does have its advantages, however. In principle, they have little to lose on Saturday. Fail to take three points and they will still have a significant buffer over Los Blancos in La Liga (as well as second-placed Atletico Madrid, who are currently nine off top spot), and only an unfathomable defeat by four goals or more would damage their head-to-head lead over Zinedine Zidane's team.
That presents a rare kind of freedom for Luis Enrique, who if he wishes, can afford to use the game as an opportunity to experiment before more vital fixtures in the coming months.
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