Confident Barca visits the unpredictable league champions Madrid

It is also Barcelona coach Hansi Flick's first Clasico, and his side's 4-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday showed how he has breathed new life into the Catalan giants in just a few months.

Madrid enjoyed their own European Cup epic on Tuesday in a repeat of last season's final against Borussia Dortmund, and they staged a classic Los Blancos comeback from a two-goal deficit to beat the visitors 5-2.

A poor first half gave way to an explosive second half in which Madrid flexed its muscles and Vinicius Junior scored a hat-trick.

“Very shy, with little control,” said Ancelotti, summing up his team’s first half against Dortmund.

“But we woke up after the break and did very well, in every way, intensity, pressing, quality, everything… it was spectacular.”

The coach had no doubt which version of Madrid he expected to see under the lights at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

“It's not too complicated… the second half of Madrid,” said the Italian coach.

Los Blancos will be without Rodrygo and Thibaut Courtois following injuries against Dortmund, while Jude Bellingham is yet to score in ten games this season, having netted ten in the same spell last year.

Without the departed Toni Kroos, Ancelotti will have to rely heavily on 39-year-old Luka Modric for midfield creativity as Madrid seek to remain unbeaten for a 43rd league game, equaling Barcelona's record set between 2017 and 2017 to be discontinued in 2018.

Vinicius' treble was a timely demonstration of his quality ahead of Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, where he is expected to win the award for the first time.

“We will give everything, in our stadium, with our fans, and we will fight for everything as always this season,” said Vinicius.

The Brazilian striker and Mbappe have the pace to destroy Barcelona's defense if Flick continues his high defense.

Bayern collapsed several times in the first half and on another night might have scored more than once.

However, Barcelona's attack is in top form and Vinicius' compatriot Raphinha scored a hat-trick against Bayern.

At times he and teenage Spanish winger Lamine Yamal have been completely unstoppable, while experienced goalscorer Robert Lewandowski is at his best.

The 36-year-old Polish striker has scored 12 La Liga goals, at least twice as many as any other player, including Mbappe with six.

Barcelona have claimed nine wins from ten games in La Liga, despite a series of injury problems that are gradually easing.

Flick has Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez and summer signing Dani Olmo available again after missing most of the season so far.

The coach said the comfortable victory over Bayern was the best route to the Clasico.

“When you win a game like that, you have to celebrate it, it’s unbelievable for the team,” said Flick.

“It gives us the confidence to believe in ourselves before Saturday’s game.”

A win would give Barcelona a six-point lead, while a loss would leave their Clasico rivals with no lead.

Real Madrid's spectacular summer signing is yet to arrive for Los Blancos, but the Clasico could be the stage for his time in the Spanish capital to kick into high gear. Mbappe's speed could be crucial for Madrid to exploit the space Barcelona leaves behind.

4 – Real Madrid have won the last four Clasicos in all competitions

Mbappe has scored 6 times in four games against Barcelona, ​​all with Paris Saint-Germain

43 – Barcelona has the longest unbeaten streak in La Liga history, Madrid can match it on Saturday

Friday (all times GMT) Espanyol vs Sevilla (1900)

Saturday

Valladolid vs Villarreal (1200), Rayo Vallecano vs Alaves (1415), Las Palmas vs Girona (1630), Real Madrid vs Barcelona (1900)

Sunday

Leganes vs. Celta Vigo (1300), Getafe vs. Valencia (1515), Real Betis vs. Atlético Madrid (1730), Real Sociedad vs. Osasuna (2000)

Monday

Mallorca vs Athletic Bilbao (2000)