El Clasico: Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid aim to stop Barcelona’s record-winning run

Real boss Mourinho has insisted his team’s most recent performances, two 4-1 victories against Sevilla and RB Leipzig, would count for little in a fixture that has such global appeal and standing.

“We are in a good dynamic, we play well, we score goals, but the Clasico is different. What we have done before has no influence,” he said.

“There are other important matches in the world, but this is the only Clasico, the world stops.”

Some of football’s biggest names with be involved, with six of this year’s 30 Ballon d’Or nominees available – Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, Rodri and Lamine Yamal, and Real Madrid trio Marc Cucurella, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.

There will be huge individual battles between them on the pitch too.

Cucurella could find himself trying to stop national team-mate Lamine Yamal down Barcelona’s right, while centre-back Cubarsi could once again face Mbappe, renewing their rivalry after Spain’s 2-0 victory over France in the World Cup semi-final.

Striker Mbappe, though, has been in prolific form for Real, scoring 12 goals in 12 appearances this season.

In midfield, Rodri and Bellingham could provide another fascinating clash between two of the game’s leading players.

With a six-point gap to leaders Barcelona, Mourinho acknowledged his third-placed side were still adapting to his methods and argued comparisons with more established teams were premature.

“We’ve been together for three months if you take away pre-season and international breaks,” he said.

“The players are still getting to know me and the way I do things.”

He also dismissed the idea of making sweeping tactical changes specifically to contain Lamine Yamal.

“He’s a great player, we respect great players. We aren’t going to completely change things. We won’t forget the way we do things,” said Mourinho.

“Madrid with Mourinho wins trophies.”