One hundred days will split the last Clasico from the latest one and for Real Madrid the prize in the rematch is more than a place in the Copa del Rey final. When they trudged off the Camp Nou in October, the big screens above them flashed 5-1 to Barcelona, with Luis Suarez scoring three and without Lionel Messi at all, their best player injured and sitting in the stands. The next day Julen Lopetegui was sacked.

Barca were top of La Liga, Madrid ninth. There will be little comfort then for Madrid that Messi could be missing again today, a niggle in his thigh leaving coach Ernesto Valverde, and Messi, with a decision to make.