Barca v Real 2010: The greatest of all Clasicos?

The best Clasico of all time? The upcoming clash between arch rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid comes at a time when both teams are at the top of their game and beating all sorts of records in Spain. We should be in for a treat!

I watched my first Clasico when I was seven or eight years old. I distinctly remember Diego Maradona running around with his small shorts and big mop of hair. Throughout the last three decades there have been so many great players to shine in this contest, which is more than a game between rivals, it is a battle between regions.

Monday’s match at the Camp Nou will see the top two footballers on the planet going head to head. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal has 15 goals in 12 league games, the most scored by a Real Madrid player at this stage of the season since 1937. Not only is he scoring goals, he is making them. Just ask "El Pipita," Gonzalo Higuain. Most of his seven goals have come from the boots of CR7.

If Cristiano has been phenomenal, then Leo Messi has been exceptional. The little Argentine also has 13 goals to his name and has been at the center of everything Barcelona have done this season. With Xavi struggling for fitness and for form, the reigning World Player of the Year has taken on more responsibility to start and finish attacking moves. Leo has just scored his 100th goal for Barca, which at 23 years of age is a formidable feat.

Of course this season’s first Clasico will be about much more than two players. It will be a clash between two teams who are playing the best collective football on the planet right now.

If you have watched Barcelona in the last three years, then you know how they play. Short, quick passes, from side to side, until they find a hole to penetrate. When they do, they are deadly.

Invariably it’s Messi, Pedro or David Villa who is at the end of their well crafted moves. Even the former Valencia man has started to find his feet and that has led Barcelona to become even more dangerous. Just ask Almeria. They were thrashed 8-0 at home this past weekend.

Real Madrid’s brand of football has been just as effective, if not as spectacular. Jose Mourinho’s priority when he arrived was to create a solid unit who could win on a short-term basis. In the first few matches, Los Blancos struggled to impose themselves on their opponents. They netted only six goals in their first five games. Since then, however, it has been a different story. They have put together a seven-match winning streak in which they have scored a whopping 27 goals. An average of nearly four goals per game.

So what game can we expect at the Camp Nou on Monday? I believe we will see an open, entertaining affair, with two teams going right at each other’s throats. The title may not be decided in these 90 minutes, but the unofficial crown of best team in the world will certainly be.

And we all know that sometimes, bragging rights are more important than trophies.

As the countdown to this contest continues, why not send me your predictions on the score and your thoughts on whether this will be the greatest Clasico of all time?

Chelsea fail to regain top spot in England after draw at Newcastle

Chelsea's poor Premier League run continued on Sunday as the English champions dropped points for the third match in a row and failed to return to the top of the table.

The Londoners were deposed at the summit after Manchester United's 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn on Saturday, but could have returned on goal difference with victory away to mid-table Newcastle

However, Carlo Ancelotti's team could only draw 1-1 as Salomon Kalou earned a point with an equalizer on the stroke of halftime following Andy Carroll's early opener for Newcastle.

That gave United a two-point lead after 15 rounds, leaving Chelsea in second place above London rivals Arsenal on goal difference.

Berbatov scores five as Man Utd run riot

The match was cleared to go ahead despite the snow that has blanketed the north of Britain in the past few days, with Newcastle's suspension-depleted line-up boosted by the presence of veteran former England defender Sol Campbell for the first time in the league since joining the promoted club in pre-season.

The home team -- beaten 5-1 by Bolton last weekend -- took the lead in the sixth minute when recent England debutant Carroll took advantage of a mistake by Brazil defender Alex to score his ninth league goal this season.

Alex had a header cleared off the line by Jose Enrique in the 26th minute, and the equalizer finally came as Ivory Coast international Kalou collected a clever pass and twisted his way into the penalty area before firing in a deflected shot.

Chelsea piled on the pressure in the second half but the closest they came to scoring was when striker Didier Drogba turned and volleyed in off the post in the 77th minute -- but it was ruled out for a blatant handball by the Ivorian.

Ancelotti said Chelsea hope to welcome back England internationals John Terry and Frank Lampard from injuries ahead of next weekend's clash with Everton, while Ghana midfielder Michael Essien returns from suspension.

"Next week for Terry and Lampard will be an important week, they will start to train with the team. We have all week to control their condition and I hope that both, maybe more John Terry than Lampard, will be able to play against Everton," the Italian told the Chelsea website.

"They are very important, not just as technical players but they have personality, character -- and at this moment we need this kind of player."

Tottenham moved into fifth place above Bolton with a last-gasp 2-1 victory at home to Liverpool as Aaron Lennon scored a stoppage-time winner in the later kickoff.

In the second minute of five added on, the England winger beat Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky to Peter Crouch's flick-on and fired past goalkeeper Pepe Reina to put the London club within a point of Manchester City.

Liverpool remained on 19 points in 10th place, behind Newcastle on goal difference.

Roy Hodgson's team had the best of the first half and took the lead through Martin Skrtel in the 42nd minute when the central defender responded quickest after his header hit the back of teammate David Ngog.

Ngog conceded a penalty on the hour mark when he handled Gareth Bale's free-kick, but substitute Jermain Defoe -- who replace the injured Rafael van der Vaart early on -- was wide of the target as the home side missed a fourth spot-kick this season.

Five minutes later Skrtel put through his own net to give Tottenham hope, with the Slovakian attempting to deny the lurking Crouch the chance to convert Luka Modric's teasing low cross.

England striker Defoe had the ball in the net in the 89th minute, but was in an offside position before volleying in Lennon's header.