Clasico will be a good gauge

La Liga leaders Barcelona visit rivals Real Madrid in a mouthwatering Clasico today, aiming to strike a significant blow in the Spanish title race.

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Barcelona hold a three-point lead on the second-place Spanish and European champions, who are struggling for consistency and balance as they head into Kylian Mbappe's (above) first Clasico as a Madrid player.

It is also Barcelona coach Hansi Flick's first Clasico and his team's 4-1 demolition of Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday demonstrated how he has revitalised the Catalan giants in a matter of months.

Madrid had their own European epic on Tuesday in a repeat of last season's final against Borussia Dortmund, and they produced a classic Los Blancos comeback from two goals down to destroy the visitors 5-2.