Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Recent Losses Change Flavor of El Clasico

When El Clasico starts, time stops. A football match between Barcelona and Real Madrid is more than just a football match. 

This is where we talk about how the rivalry between Barca and Real is truly the best rivalry in sports, that each and every meeting is like the Super Bowl multiplied by 10. These games truly matter.

There are, however, different circumstances at work ahead of Saturday's rendition of El Clasico. Typically, Barca and Real Madrid look towards El Clasico wanting a victory. Given what transpired this week, it's fair to say that both squads need a win in Saturday's tilt.

It's not a huge shock that Real Madrid lost to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League tie on Tuesday. Los Blancos are a very, very good team, but they lost to a very, very good Bayern squad on the road in a very, very hostile environment. Plus, Los Blancos lost on a 90th-minute goal. A loss like that can be excused. 

It's a lot harder to excuse Barca for losing at Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League. Barca had the Blues on the ropes again and again, but were unable to put a goal on the board. The one goal that was scored in the match gave Chelsea a gigantic 1-0 victory.

Barcelona did not look like themselves. You know that, I know that, everyone knows that.

Both of these losses are hanging over Saturday's match, and that reality has not yet been swept under the rug. Nor should it be. As huge as El Clasico is, there's no denying that both Barcelona and Real Madrid are going to have even bigger fish to fry when they play the second legs of their Champions League ties just a few days later.

However, neither side can use this as an excuse to take El Clasico lightly (a phrase that admittedly feels strange to write). Both sides have the Champions League to worry about, but there is also the matter of La Liga title. 

Real Madrid is clinging to a four-point advantage in the table, meaning a loss would put their hopes of winning La Liga title in jeopardy. Barcelona can afford a loss even less, as a loss would all but secure the title for Real Madrid.

Add it all up, and you get a truly fascinating set of circumstances that will surely lead to a truly fascinating match. Both sides will be looking to get back on form after their humbling losses, but at the same time both clubs know that Saturday's match is not an end-all, be-all occasion. 

Welcome to El Clasico, where there are storylines galore. You gotta love it.