Barcelona Vs. Real Madrid: Where El Clasico Will Be Won Or Lost

At 9pm Monday evening, the footballing world will stop in its tracks and focus on events at the Camp Nou as Barcelona and Real Madrid embark on the 161st Clasico. The match is being labeled the match of the millennium in these parts, as the Spanish press live up to their reputation as sensationalists of the highest order. What's certain is that it is without doubt one of the most eagerly anticipated Clasicos in years.

It will be Jose Mourinho first experience of the greatest match in club football, and his first visit back to the Camp Nou since knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League last season as he lead his Inter Milan side to European glory. Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi enter the match in the form of their lives and there is only one point separating the two at this early stage of the season, which only serves to highlight the importance of tomorrows encounter.

The results in the season's two clasicos will inevitably be decisive in the title race as the top two pull away from the rest. Naturally with two teams of this calibre, there are match-winners all over the park and a million different factors that are capable of deciding this monster of a fixture. So as both sides prepare for battle, here is where I believe the match will be won or lost:

Messi v Ronaldo: . We all know what they are both capable of, and neither will phased by a match of this magnitude. With seven goals already to his name in Clasicos, Messi will go into the match with the greater record to his name but on recent form you get the feeling that Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to end his dismal record against Barcelona. In what is likely to be an extremely tight match, one moment of magic from either could settle it.

Defence: On Monday night both defences will be facing two of club footballs most potent attacking forces. Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho have forged a fruitful partnership at the back for Real Madrid this season, while Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol already have nearly three years experience playing together and are widely regarded as one of the top centre-back pairings in the world. Looking at both back fours you would have to say Real Madrid just about come out on top, but there's nothing in it. A momentary lapse in concentration will be costly. It's down to who imposes their rule best on the night.

Stop Xavi: It is no secret that if you can stop Xavi, you can stop Barcelona. Perhaps a little harsh to say when you look at the other players at Barca's disposal, but in many respects true. Cut the supply line to Barca's front three and you nullify a huge amount of their threat. Mourinho will surely give instructions to Sami Khedira to follow Xavi closely. If the German succeeds, and allows Xavi Alonso to enjoy plenty of time and space on the ball, Madrid will be in the money. Fail, and Xavi is more than capable of picking Real Madrid off at will.

The Mourinho Factor: The man is a born winner. Aside from a couple of Champions League semi-final defeats at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho has a near-perfect record in big matches. He did the business when he came to the Camp Nou with Inter Milan last season, so he knows exactly what it takes to defeat Barcelona on their own turf. If he gets his team fired up for the occasion and employs the same defensive tactics that worked so well with Inter, Barcelona could be in for a frustrating evening.

Pedro: I believe that little Pedro could well be decisive tomorrow night. It's natural that all the focus is on players like Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta, Villa and Higuain. Yet many forget the influence Pedro is capable of exerting on proceedings. With pace to burn and an eye for goal, Pedro scored the all-important second goal for Barca in last seasons clasico at the Bernabeu and with two goals in the midweek win over Panathanaikos, he will enter the match on a high. Real Madrid beware.