Real Madrid GM Jorge Valdano fired a barb at Barcelona ahead of the El Clasico. Valdano concedes Barca are playing the better football, though says it took them "20 years" to finally start producing such style.

"Barca produces very good football, true, and it is probably the best time they're having in their history. But, it's taken them 20 years to achieve this collective maturity.

"We took four months to get to the top of the table and it is unfair to compare where these two teams are at the moment," said Valdano.

"Yes, we've been lacklustre, but we're still winning. And we've done so without Cristiano (Ronaldo), which is a great achievement."