Carlo Ancelotti has won three of his seven La Liga meetings against Barcelona (L4) and can become the fifth Real Madrid coach to win four or more Clasicos in LaLiga history after Miguel Muñoz (12) in 1971, Francisco Bru (5) in 1940, Luis Molowny (5) in 1986, and Zinedine Zidane (4) in 2021.

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Ferran Torres has scored in both of his games for Barcelona in La Liga against Real Madrid (two goals in total), and if he scores, he will become only the second player from either team to score in their first three Clasicos in the competition in the 21st century after Samuel Eto'o in 2005 (3).

If any team can find a way past this Barca defence, it is Real Madrid. They are the first team to reach 50 goals scored in La Liga this season.

They have the fifth highest Expected goals total (51.1) in the top five European leagues this season, behind PSG (58.6), Manchester City (57), Arsenal (53.4) and Bayern Munich (53.2).

Barcelona have achieved the most clean sheets (19) in La Liga this season. Their eight goals conceded after the first 25 games of a season is the best defensive record at this stage in the entire history of La Liga.

Real Madrid have won their last two visits to Camp Nou in LaLiga. Only once (three between January 1963 and February 1965) have the White side recorded three straight away wins against Barcelona in the history of the competition.

However, Barcelona have not lost any of their 12 home games in La Liga 2022-23 (W10 D2), their best unbeaten start at home at this stage of the season since 2019/20.

Barca won't want to admit it, but they could be helped by their absence from Europe in the closing stages of the season.

They were knocked out of the Europa League by Manchester United not that long ago, leaving them with only domestic matters on which to focus.

In contrast, Real are still in the Champions League - a competition that always captures their imagination - with a quarter-final against Chelsea to come after their destroyed Liverpool over two legs.

Real can draw on strong away form this season, with them taking 28 points from 13 matches. They have also dominated recent league meetings with Barca, winning five of their last six in Spain's top flight.

Barcelona's off-field issues of late are well chronicled. But under Xavi this season, their on-field exploits have been impressive. They have 21 victories from 25 games, with 47 goals to their name and just a paltry eight against.

With 13 league games still to go, the gap between Barca and Real can be bridged, but games are rapidly running out for the latter, making tonight crucial.

This is actually the middle of an El Clasico trilogy taking place over a few weeks, with Barca having already won the first leg of a Copa del Rey semi-final between the two 1-0. They host Real here again in early March for a place in the final.

Here is the current top six in La Liga...

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Barcelona make just the one change from the side that started the 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao a week ago as defender Ronald Araujo comes in for forward Ferran Torres, with the ex-Manchester City man among the substitutes.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Balde, Christensen, Kounde, Araujo, De Jong, Busquets, Roberto, Gavi, Lewandowski, Raphinha.

Subs: Pena, Tenas, Alonso, Alba, Garcia, Kessie, Torre, Fati, Alarcon, Torres.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti goes with the same 11 that began the 1-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday to seal a 6-2 aggregate victory to move into the Champions League quarter-finals.

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Nacho, Rudiger, Militao, Carvajal, Kroos, Camavinga, Modric, Vinicius Jr, Benzema, Valverde.

Subs: Lunin, Vallejo, Odriozola, Mendy, Vazquez, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Hazard, Asensio, Rodrygo, Mariano.

Every El Clasico is important. Don't let anyone tell you different.

But some are a bit more important that others.

Tonight, Barcelona host Real Madrid knowing that a victory will take them 12 points clear of their fierce rivals at the top of La Liga and a giant step closer to a first Spanish title since 2019.

If Real, the reigning champions, want to keep the silverware for another season, a victory is an absolute must.

It's a fixture with a proud line in thrills, spills, drama and dust-ups. Expect plenty tonight.