Alejandro Moreno explains why Lionel Messi will be the X-factor in El Clasico after a difficult match against Deportivo.
ESPN FC is "OnScene" at the world's biggest club football game: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, which kicks off on Dec. 23 at 12 p.m. GMT / 7 a.m. ET.
Barcelona go into this weekend's Clasico with a six-point lead at the top of the La Liga and an 11 point lead over Madrid, albeit having played a game more... But a Madrid win (after their success at the Club World Cup) would open up the title race again.
Here's all the latest buildup from the ESPN team and our correspondents Sam Marsden (Barcelona) and Dermot Corrigan (Real Madrid).
THURSDAY, Dec. 21
Ronaldo misses full training for third day
Cristiano Ronaldo was again unable to take part in full Real Madrid training on Thursday morning. The forward also missed Tuesday and Wednesday's training sessions with his teammates and, although Real Madrid have not issued any specific update on the calf problem or any other potential injury, he was again unable to even work with the football today.
"The team have trained at Real Madrid City in continued preparation for the La Liga showdown with Barcelona, to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu this Saturday (1:00pm CET)," a club statement released afterwards said. "Ball work took centre stage in a session which saw Zidane involve Under-19s goalkeeper Moha. Cristiano Ronaldo trained alone out on the pitch, both with and without the ball, whilst Luca [Zidane] continued his recovery process."
Barca's latest training update is less dramatic
Barcelona goes to the polls
Barcelona are preparing for the Clasico but it's a big day in the city for other reasons. After October's unilateral referendum on independence, Spain's central government called regional Catalan elections for today. Among those expected to vote is Gerard Pique, who has called for the final result - whether it's a pro-independence, pro-referendum or pro-unity party that wins -- to be respected. "It's a very important day in the history of Catalonia," he wrote on Twitter. "The future is in our hands. We have the power with our votes. I'll add one thing: the final result will be the will of the Catalan people. Respect it." Once the results are in, thoughts can turn to Saturday's trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Late changes to Barca travel plans
Barca look to Ronaldinho for inspiration
One of Barcelona's best Bernabeu memories came over a decade ago now, in the 2005-06 season. It came at the height of the Frank Rijkaard era and featured a stunning performance from Ronaldinho. So good was the Brazilian on the day in the 3-0 win, scoring two of the goals, that even the Madrid supporters applauded him. Ronaldinho's throne has now been taken by Lionel Messi and he's had plenty of good moments in the Spanish capital, too. Will he provide another one on Saturday?
Player-cams for Ronaldo and Messi
Providing he makes it, Cristiano Ronaldo will be tracked with a dedicated player camera on Saturday, along with great rival Lionel Messi. A La Liga statement read: "Two cameras will get up-close and personal with the Portuguese striker and the Argentine forward, allowing supporters to feast their eyes on every last move made by the global stars.
"The same applies to the two men in the dugouts, with a pair of cameras set to be trained on Zinedine Zidane and Ernesto Valverde right from the first whistle. In an effort to make television viewers feel as if they were lapping up the action from a seat in the stands, the Bernabeu is also to be equipped with a virtual Be The Player camera, which features Intel's 360° technology and represents a first for a La Liga broadcast. This camera captures events from the player's perspective, offering spectators the same view of the match as their heroes."
Infographic detailing the big coverage El Clasico will get.
Ronaldo and Messi's personal rivalry
Marca's cover Thursday morning played up the Ronaldo vs. Messi rivalry with the headline: "Level on 53 goals - Cristiano and Messi have the same goals in 2017. Their goal-scoring influence in Madrid and Barca victories is almost identical."
Inside the story detailed how their teams both win 75 percent of games when their main man plays, while Madrid winning 89.5 percent of their games when Ronaldo scores, to Barca's 88.9 percent victories when Messi scores.
The next generation
Future Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is in the Spanish capital this week to visit the club's facilities and take in Saturday's Clasico, although the teenager -- still playing at Brazilian club Flamengo -- apparently removed a photo from Instagram which showed him en route on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20
Could Ronaldo miss El Clasico?
Real Madrid's main man has a problem, with Saturday's big game inching closer. Dermot has the latest here.
Barcelona injury news
Here's our man Sam with the latest ...
BIG UPDATE and a potential blow for Real Madrid
Marco Asensio getting in the mood for the game
Rewind to 2007 and the Clasico where Lionel Messi announced himself on the grand stage. Sam takes a look at the Barcelona legend's hat trick in a thrilling clash as the Camp Nou.
To kick off your day, watch the ESPN FC Extra Time crew discuss the Clasico and what it may hold for Gareth Bale. Plus there's Antoine Griezmann chat in there too.
TUESDAY, Dec. 19
Barcelona and Real Madrid both have issues to fix
Ousmane Dembele is back in training after he was ruled out for four months, but he won't be fit in time for Clasico. Here are five issues for Barcelona.
Real Madrid HAVE to win, while the future of Cristiano Ronaldo is up for debate. Here are five issues for Real Madrid.
How do Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's El Clasico stats stack up against each other?
Barcelona clean up at awards
No guard of honour
Barcelona director of institutional relations Guillermo Amor says the club will not be giving a guard of honour to Club World Cup winners Real Madrid before Saturday's La Liga Clasico at the Bernabeu.
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