The summit ignites hours before it begins

Real Madrid arrived at the Intercontinental Hotel in Barcelona to a chorus of hostile chants, just hours before Sunday evening's eagerly anticipated Clasico against Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou in La Liga. The air crackled with tension.

Spanish newspaper "AS" reported that around 100 fans gathered outside the hotel near Montjuic to greet the Real Madrid delegation, some hurling insults at Barcelona. France's Kylian Mbappe was the last player off the bus, yet he drew the loudest supportive chants. Portugal's Jose Mourinho got a few too, though with nothing like the same enthusiasm.

The stakes could hardly be higher in the title race. A win would stretch Barcelona's lead over Real Madrid to nine points and tighten their grip at the summit, with Atletico Madrid having closed to within two points of the leaders after yesterday's victory.

Hansi Flick's Catalans want to keep the good times rolling and edge towards a perfect 10 straight wins from the start of the season. Real Madrid, meanwhile, arrive desperate to claw back ground and wreck their rivals' plans at the top.

Points are only half the story. This Clasico lands with the boardrooms at war, feuding over refereeing and the barbs traded between Florentino Perez and Jose Mourinho, adding yet another layer to a fixture that commands attention from football fans across the globe.