And so the posturing and conjecture have begun ahead of el clasico in the Bernabeu on December 10.
The Catalan press are at their sabre-rattling best, proclaiming that Barcelona will win.
The players say the same, but then they would, wouldn't they?
The increasingly bullish pro-Real Madrid press are convinced that their side now have the power to stop Barca from recording their fourth successive title, which would match the achievement of Johan Cruyff's '90s dream team.
Their secret weapon? Playing three central midfielders to disrupt the passing geniuses of Xavi, Iniesta, et al.
Pep Guardiola maintains that his side are "at a good level, but it's not sufficient and we have to improve.
Complaining doesn't improve your team. The only way to grow is to look at yourself and that's what we will do".
Other respected pundits think that the cycle of Spanish football has altered in Real's favour.
Abelardo, the former Barca defender, said: "Barca cannot win everything forever.
"They also have a lot of competitions. I think it's more important to Barca that they win the World Club Championship than win in the Bernabeu."
"Madrid are no longer cats, now they are lions," said Radomir Antic, the respected coach.
Pichi Alonso, the former Barca striker, speaks for many when he says: "If Barca lose in the Bernabeu then the league will almost be impossible."
Not that Barca fans will want to see it the same way.
