Today’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is the highlight of a weekend fixture list which also features plenty of exciting clashes at the top and bottom of the table.
LaLiga Santander leaders Barça travel to third-placed Real Madrid for the 178th playing of the historic fixture, with the eyes of football supporters all over the world once again focused on the Santiago Bernabeu.
Barça won 5-1 in the first El Clasico of the season back in October, when Luis Suarez stepped up with a hat-trick in the absence of injured Blaugrana captain Lionel Messi. However, a lot has changed on both sides since then, and new Blancos coach Santi Solari and exciting Brazilian starlet Vinicius Junior will be aiming for three points to throw open the LaLiga Santander title race.
The weekend’s LaLiga programme kicks off elsewhere in the Spanish capital on Friday evening at the Estadio de Vallecas, as 19th placed Rayo Vallecano look to end a four-game losing streak when hosting a Girona team whose form has improved lately with four points from their last six games.
Today’s action starts at the RCDE Stadium in the city of Barcelona, where Espanyol aim extend their four-game unbeaten LaLiga run against relegation battlers
Real Valladolid who have only taken one point from their last four outings.