In fact, Sunday’s match will be the first Clasico since 2007 not to feature Messi due to a fractured arm he suffered in Barca’s 4-2 win over Sevilla this past weekend. The Blaugrana’s ability to win the match would usually be very much diminished by the injury to their Argentine master (he is the all-time leading scorer in the Clasico), but Real are going through such turmoil that even without Messi the Catalans will be clear favourites.

The Madrid side lost at home to Levante this past weekend (a fifth match across all competitions in which they have failed to win) and they could have a new manager by the time the Clasico rolls around. Julen Lopetegui’s position is hanging by a thread and a failure to beat Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Champions League in midweek may result in ‘Los Blancos’ travelling to Barcelona with a new boss at the helm.

While the Clasico will no doubt hog the headlines, there are other matches across the Spanish top flight which will certainly be worth watching. Espanyol could assume top spot on Friday night when they play away to Real Valladolid, while Thomas Partey’s Atletico Madrid will be hoping to put pressure on Barca when they host Real Sociedad in Saturday’s late game.

Another key game on Saturday afternoon sees Athletic Bilbao host Valencia at San Mames Barria. Both teams will feel they belong higher up the log than their current positions in the lower half of the table, especially ‘Los Che’, who will look to new Central African Republic international Geoffrey Kondogbia for inspiration.

Elsewhere, Moses Simon’s Levante will look to build further momentum with a win at home to Leganes, Ryad Boudebouz’s Real Betis will look to break a two-game losing run when they face Amath Ndiaye’s Getafe, and Mubarak Wakaso’s Deportivo Alaves who have been the surprise package of the season will aim for further joy near the top of the standings when they host Karl Toko Ekambi’s Villarreal.

Key match stats

Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad – Head-to-Head, all competitions

Matches played 41

Atletico wins 18

Sociedad wins 16

Draws 7

Athletic Bilbao v Valencia – Head-to-Head, all competitions

Matches played 52

Athletic wins 15

Valencia wins 23

Draws 14

Barcelona v Real Madrid – Head-to-Head, La Liga only

Matches played 176

Barcelona wins 70

Real Madrid wins 72

Draws 34

La Liga fixtures, 24-28 October 2018

All times GMT

Wednesday 24 October

5:00pm Rayo Vallecano v Athletic Bilbao – LIVE on SS7 & Max1

Friday 26 October

7:00pm Real Valladolid v Espanyol – LIVE on SS7, Max2 & SelGO4

Saturday 27 October

11:00am Girona v Rayo Vallecano – LIVE on SS7, Max2 & SelGO4

2:15pm Athletic Bilbao v Valencia – LIVE on SS7 & SelGO4

4:30pm Celta de Vigo v Eibar – LIVE on SS7, Max360 & SelGO4

4:30pm Levante v Leganes – LIVE on SS12

6:45pm Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad – LIVE on SS7, Max2 & SelGO4

Sunday 28 October

11:00am Getafe v Real Betis – LIVE on SS7/SS10, Max360, & SelGO2/SelGO4

3:15pm Barcelona v Real Madrid – LIVE on SS7, Max2 & SelGO4

5:30pm Deportivo Alaves v Villarreal – LIVE on SS7, Max2 & SelGO4

7:45pm Sevilla v Huesca – LIVE on SS7, Max2 & SelGO4