Barcelona averaged over four goals per game this season, with Raphinha's 12 league goals three more than Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe. (EPA Images pic)BARCELONA: For weeks LaLiga leaders Barcelona have been eagerly awaiting Sunday's Clasico as a chance to stretch the gap between themselves and rivals Real Madrid to a massive nine points.

Some turbulence in the final approach to the clash at Camp Nou has complicated the picture for Hansi Flick's Spanish champions, who suffered their first defeat of the season at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

By contrast Real Madrid have won four consecutive matches, thrashing RB Leipzig on Wednesday, and starting to look, for the first time since Jose Mourinho's arrival this summer, like a team.