The most even Clásico in recent years

FC Barcelona will visit the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, and play against a Real Madrid side that have lost on four consecutive occasions at home in the league in this particular fixture. Quique Setién and Zinedine Zidane's teams will face each other at 9.00pm CET, in one of the most even Clásicos of recent years.

The Catalans lead the table but only by two points from Los Blancos, after Barça's win against Eibar (5-0) and Madrid's defeat against Levante (1-0).

In fact, the statistics show that since 2015 both teams haven't been so close in points terms when due to play the second league Clásico of the season. On that occasion, the game was played at Camp Nou on March 22, and Barça were leading Madrid by just a point. The Catalans managed to win 2-1, with goals from Mathieu and Suárez, and, in the end, Luis Enrique's team would end up winning the treble.

We have to go back to 2010 to find when another Clásico was played at the point when the teams were neck and neck. On that occasion, Barça and Madrid met at the Bernabéu and were level on points. The final result, a 0-2 in favour of Barça with goals from Messi and Pedro, practically won them the league.

A reason for optimism

February 2000, 20 years ago, is another precedent. Real Madrid won 3-0, however, it wasn't enough for a league title because Deportivo ended the season as champions.

An unusual stat has also been uncovered. Analysing the 17 seasons when the second Clásico of the campaign has been played in Madrid, Los Blancos have never won the league in any of those instances, and in the seven of the last eight editions in which this has happened, Barça have ended up winning the title. Will it happen again?