Listen to the full interview above via the Off The Ball Football Show podcast
Every El Clasico is potentially intriguing but this Sunday night's one is particularly pivotal.
With Barcelona looking shakier than at any time in the past six years and Real Madrid looking like strong candidates for the treble, the match could have a defining impact on both clubs.
To preview the game, we were joined by our European football correspondent Graham Hunter who feels the atmosphere of the Clasicos have changed since Jose Mourinho and his feudal style disappeared to England.
"Now there's a very different sensation aligned to the Clasicos. It's not about nastiness. If there's some residual from the 2011 series [of Clasicos] probably you can have a little look at Arbeloa, who is not the most popular player in the Barcelona dressing room. But he's out," said Graham.
Carlo Ancelotti has changed the tone and I think he's taken advantage of that good work that Mourinho did. I wasn't approving of everything that Mourinho did but I think [Ancelotti] has complimented it."
Graham believes Real Madrid have become "tactically more intelligent" as Ancelotti has fine-tuned the straight-forward counter-attacking machine that they often were under Mourinho.
He also believes the good form of the key players from each side should make this Clasico one of the best Clasicos in months.
But he also believes Barcelona need to play with the four-man midfield that they used against Manchester City.
Graham also touched on the cruel cruciate injury suffered by Real Madrid's up-and-coming first-team starlet Jese Rodriguez and the stellar impact he has made on his team-mates and the club.
Graham also explained why he has an "instinct" that Barcelona will go to the Bernabeu and win 2 - 1.
