Barcelona vs Real Madrid: 5 things to look out for in El Clasico

Barcelona may have been crowned the Spanish champions already, but all's not over yet. The El Clasico is still upon us, and the delirium is tangible in the build-up to Sunday's kick-off.

Whilst the Catalans enter the tie as double winners, having secured the Copa Del Rey and La Liga medals, Los Blancos are fresh off the back of clinching a third consecutive Champions League final.

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But in the league, the disparity between the sides have never been more - 15 points currently separate the sides in the table in what was a season of contrasting fortunes for the club.

For the first time since 2008, these sides meet for the second-leg of a domestic clash with the title race already decided.

But there's still plenty of storylines to keep an eye on. Here are the 5 things to watch in the 271st El Clasico.

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#5 Real Madrid's encouraging record at the Camp Nou

Real Madrid were 3-1 victors in their last visit to the Camp Nou

There are peculiar things about games like these. Whilst Barcelona are on their best ever run at the Bernabeu, having won in each of the last three league games, Real Madrid are unbeaten in the last three official trips to the Camp Nou. In fact, they've lost just twice in the last seven visits in four years.

Zinedine Zidane as the manager is yet to taste a defeat there in three trips, but this might prove to be his toughest visit yet.

Barcelona isn't just unbeaten this whole season, but their last loss on home turf stretches back to September 2016 when Alaves sprung a surprise.

Since then, 34 games have gone without resulting them on a losing side.

But more importantly, this is a Barcelona side at the peak of its powers. Real Madrid on the other hand, still have several issues plaguing despite considerable improvements since the turn of the year.

Bayern Munich exposed several frailties in the second-leg of the semi-final earlier this week, and the Whites would have to work on them if they were to come away unscathed from Camp Nou once again.

#4 More piece of history for Ramos, Iniesta and Messi

Messi, Ramos, Iniesta - Some of the veterans in the El Clasico

From the current crop of players in both camps, Sergio Ramos, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi are among the few players to have been playing in El Clasico for over a decade now.

These players have been a part of some great El Clasicos over the years and also been featuring regularly.

In fact, all these players are tied at 37 caps each. This Sunday would see them go one better of some legends such as Fernando Hierro, Raul and Iker Casillas, all of whom share just as many number of appearances in the Clasico history.

And after the latest clash, only Xavi, Francisco Gento and Manuel Sanchis remain as the players with more participation.

But with Iniesta set to partake in his final Clasico before departing to the Far East, Ramos and Messi then find themselves on course to overtake Sanchis' all-time appearance record of 43 caps.

#3 Ronaldo closing in on Di Stefano's haul

Ronaldo always does it at the Camp Nou

Cristiano Ronaldo just loves scoring against Barcelona. In 29 games in all competitions, he's struck 17 times - eight of which have come in the league - making him one of the most prolific in Clasico history.

Whilst Messi is seemingly unassailable at 25 goals, the most in this fixture as you would know, his Portuguese rival needs just one more to equal Alfredo Di Stefano's haul.

The former Real Madrid legend is currently second in the all-time standings with 18 strikes against Barcelona.

His record stood for 50 years until the Argentine ace surpassed the mark in 2014. Come Sunday, the Spanish legend could be put further behind if Ronaldo bags a goal or two.

And what better place to do it than at the Camp Nou, one of his favourite stomping grounds. In 15 games, the 33-year old has found the net 11 times - one more than his great rival Messi.

His searing run of form since the turn of the year holds him in good stead. And having been nullified over two legs against Bayern Munich, Ronaldo would be raring to get back on the scoresheet.

#2 Barcelona's final test en route to 'invincible' title

The El Clasico is the final test of Barcelona's 'invincible' credentials

Barcelona wrapped up a seventh league title of the last decade in the Spanish top-flight last weekend. But what's special about this triumph is, they did so without losing a single game. Thirty-four games played 26 victories and no defeats.

The Blaugrana are firmly on their way towards becoming the first side in La Liga history to go a whole season unbeaten. And Real Madrid are the last genuine test to their invincible credentials. Because of the remaining games, they play Villarreal and Real Sociedad at home, while interspersed in between is a facile trip to Valencia to face a 17th placed Levante.

Even if the form tips the scales in the home side's favour, Clasico is so unpredictable that the odds go out of the window. Matches can swing within a drop of a hat and no tie is really over until the whistle is blown. Barcelona's dream of 'Invincibles' hangs on this tie and this tie alone.

Avoid a defeat, and there are as good as that.

#1 Iniesta's farewell El Clasico

One last El Clasico for the midfield maestro

All the records and milestones aside, the El Clasico would be more significant for the departing Andres Iniesta than any player on the field on Sunday.

The Barcelona skipper would be stepping down in the summer, coasting off to China for a new footballing sojourn.

The 34-year old is a Clasico veteran, having participated in 37 of them in his career, winning an unprecedented 16.

He's also scored thrice - two of them at the Bernabeu - and on each occasion, Barcelona have gone on to win. Not to mention another eight assists all along.

In the 15 years that he's been a part of this rivalry, Iniesta has actually witnessed it all. Joy, gloom, pride, humiliation; he's been through the thick and thin, and it's difficult to fathom a Clasico without one of its greatest participants.

In what's set to his final appearance in this storied fixture, Iniesta would definitely aim to bow out on a high.

He's been a thorn in the face of their great rivals over the years, and one last straw before he departs would be a fitting farewell.