When I first moved to Seville, I assumed that a city with two decent-sized clubs like Sevilla and Real Betis would not be overly concerned by the El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
I could not have been more wrong as the city came to a virtual standstill with pretty much every Sevillano either watching the game in a bar or in front of their telly. This weekend, the streets will be eerily quiet again.
Barcelona-based Spanish football aficionado Graham Hunter previewed Saturday's Clasico on Off The Ball last night.
The 5pm kick off (Irish time) comes at a fascinating period for both clubs.
Both have new "star" players in Neymar and Gareth Bale who are still awaiting a really breakout moment, while both are under new managers. But it's Real Madrid who seem to be on the lower ebb.
"Neither team has hit the heights yet," said Graham. "Although there is only a three point gap, the beginning of the season has been more testing for Real Madrid. They have been more criticized and had more problems to resolve. We've been used to having the first Clasico of the season in November and December but there has been a concerted effort to try and help the Spanish team with the World Cup coming up in Brazil next year. Plus it has been said that Barcelona and Real Madrid tripping up in the Champions League semis recently is down to the intensity of the league-defining Clasicos in April. The games have been pulled forward a little bit and as such the media focus only really started on Thursday."
An interesting point about Barcelona that Hunter points out is the fact that new manager Tata Martino has rested his key players when needed, including Lionel Messi. Martino hopes it will leave enough gas in the tank for the key period around March and April.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid want success in that period too as Hunter explained that the club find it "galling" that Barcelona have won the Champions League three times, since they last won it.
But Real Madrid and their manager are still feeling around for their best team.
"Carlo Ancelotti is still looking for the best structure matched to staff. 4-3-3 is the third formation they have used this season and right now it looks their most efficient. The players are notably happier about it. Ancelotti thinks that more of the defensive work he expects is being completed adequately. However when Bale comes back either he will automatically drop Di Maria or Benzema or discard Morata, put Ronaldo in the middle. But Ronaldo doesn't want to move into the middle. Or they may abandon the 4-3-3 in order to have space for Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale and Di Maria. Because of Bale's injuries, they haven't had time to do it."
But Barcelona have issues to iron, specifically in defence and have been vulnerable to Cristiano Ronaldo in the last few Clasicos (he has scored eight goals in his last six against Barca).
