Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Is Jose Mourinho's Job on the Line Tonight?

With the fourth El Clasico matchup of the season looming a few hours away, a whirlwind of speculation is enveloping the stage.

While the buzz surrounding the match is palpable compared to the normal La Liga match, it feels a little less anticipated than previous Clasicos.

Perhaps this is because Real Madrid, who travel to the Camp Nou in need of at least a one-goal victory, have defeated Barcelona once in nine Clasicos under manager Jose Mourinho.

Perhaps it is because of the defensive, counterattacking tactics Mourinho continues to employ, tactics that make the game less than the epic encounter it should be and leave even Madrid fans frustrated.

Or perhaps it is because the matches are being overshadowed by the drama surrounding the status of Mourinho's tenure.

It may be unthinkable, but the same manager who won a trophy last year and leads La Liga by five points may have one foot out the door.

After yet another loss to their hated rivals a week ago, Madrid fans whistled at the chants of Mourinho's name, voicing their displeasure at his tactics and his lack of results against Barcelona.

The next day, Madrid newspapers—including Marca—attacked Mourinho and his squad's lack of composure (especially Pepe).

Finally, reports of a training ground dispute between Mourinho and Sergio Ramos surfaced, calling into question the control Mourinho has over his squad.

Disgusted with his treatment, the Portuguese manager hinted at his imminent resignation from his post at Madrid. These reports were not followed by Real appeasing him, but reports of the club reaching out to possible replacements.

While this saga may be overshadowing the build to the match, it makes the match all the more crucial.

Should Madrid put in a good performance against Barcelona (maybe even without advancing), the whole thing may be swept under the rug. After all, that is what happened to the Madristas' qualms with the style of play when Real won the Copa last season.

However, should Madrid be beaten again by Barca, it will all but seal the fate of the "Special One." Even if Real do not make the decision to move on, the assault from the fans and newspapers in Madrid will make it easy for Mourinho to make good on his threat. However, if he goes, who knows what players go with him?

In the Clasico later today, it is unlikely the outcome will be anything besides Barcelona advancing. That being said, the result of this particular 90 minutes will determine the future of Real Madrid.

This may just be the most important Clasico yet.