SUPER FIGHT BETWEEN RONALDO AND MESSI AS BARCELONA HOSTS MADRID TODAY IN THE FIRST EL-CLASICO OF THE SEASON

Barcelona face the toughest test of their season so far today, as they prepare to welcome eternal rivals Real Madrid to the Camp Nou for the first Clasico of the season. After nine matches, the Blaugrana sit atop of La Liga having amassed 25 points out of a possible 27 – that’s three more points than Carlo Ancelotti’s superstar squad have mustered – and with a win tomorrow, Barça would extend their lead over Los Blancos to a staggering six points.

Two new managers are set to be thrown into the cauldron following a summer of change at both clubs; Carlo Ancelotti replaced Jose Mourinho, whose antics were growing tiresome, at Madrid, and Gerardo Martino took over for Tito Vilanova on the Catalan coast.

FACTS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT EL-CLASICO

-Real Madrid's number 7,Christina Ronaldo has played 10 matches at the Nou Camp in all competitions, and he has already scored nine goals, while also notching one assist.With all those goals scored, Ronaldo has helped guide the Merengues to four victories, three draws and three defeats.


-In his whole career against Real Madrid, Lionel Messi has recorded 11 assists.From those 11, only three came before CR7's arrival at the Bernabeu.Since these two have gone head to head, every match that Lionel Messi records an assist, Barcelona has never lost.


-Considering how often these two players can put the ball in the back of the net,it is impressive that neither of them have been able to score three goals in one match against each other. Lionel Messi did manage to score one hattrick during the 2006/07 campaign, but Ronaldo was still applying his trade at Old Trafford.


-When Barcelona hosts the first El Clasico of the campaign, they have never lost. (Since Ronaldo's arrival in Spain).


-Ronaldo has only managed to emerge victorious at the Nou Camp in a La Liga match once in four attempts.