Twice a year Spain is brought to a virtual standstill when its two biggest clubs cross swords in the league, the media shamelessly billing every encounter as the “game of the century”. The nationalistic, political and cultural rivalries that suffuse “El Clasico” ensure it is one of the most intensely disputed fixtures in world sport. What makes this season’s clash more special than most is that for the first time in years the two teams are locked in combat at the top of the table.THE KEY PLAYERSBARCELONASamuel Eto’O: Once on Real’s books, the Cameroon striker is always fired up for games against his old club and will be even more so now that he has joined Barcelona. Has been in electric form this season, grabbing nine goals to top the scoring charts.Deco: Played an instrumental role in Porto’s Champions League triumph last season and in Portugal’s run to the final of Euro 2004, and Deco has been an instant hit at the Nou Camp. Has excellent control and is a tireless worker in the centre of the field.Ronaldinho: Star of the show at the Nou Camp, the prodigiously talented Brazilian may not yet have reached the heights of last season, yet he is still capable of setting any game alight. No other player in La Liga possesses his repertoire of shimmies, step-overs and assorted tricks.REAL MADRIDLuis Figo: Real’s first Galactico and the man who helped Florentino Perez win the presidential election by agreeing to defect from Barca. Has never been forgiven by the Nou Camp and will be assured of another hostile reception.Zinedine Zidane: Signed for a world record $66 million from Juventus in 2001, the Frenchman lived up to his price tag when he scored a glorious volleyed winner in the 2002 European Cup final. Inconsistent, he always raises his game for the big occasion and is capable of producing moments of match-winning brilliance.Raul: Real’s captain and the only one of the Spaniards mentioned in the same breath as the Galacticos. Looked stale and unhappy last season but has shown recent signs of recovering his sharpness and has a good record in matches against the old enemy.
