A Clásico with the lead at stake... and also a crown: Kylian Mbappe vs. Lamine Yamal

The first Clásico of the season is just around the corner, a matchup with a huge amount of unfinished business following last season's victories for Barça over Real Madrid, and which remains a mystery due to the uncertainty surrounding both sides in these first few weeks of the competition.

It's hard to pick a favorite for this Sunday's match (4:15 p.m.) at the Santiago Bernabéu, although if we look at Hansi Flick's Barça statistics, it's none other than the Blaugrana. The German coach has made four out of four since taking over , with four painful results for Real Madrid: 0-4 in La Liga at the Bernabéu, 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final, 3-2 in the Copa del Rey title match, and 4-3 in the domestic competition at Montjuic.

But that Real Madrid isn't the one we have today, whether you like it or not. Xabi Alonso is currently on the bench, experiencing his first Clásico as a manager , and for whom the stakes are much higher than they should be at this stage of the season. The team is leading La Liga and has been in the Champions League, but the feeling isn't entirely good—patience isn't the greatest virtue at Chamartín—and the thrashing in the derby against Atlético de Madrid almost a month ago still stings... and worries.

That said, Real Madrid is at the top of the table, and the top spot is up for grabs at the Bernabéu . Winners take the lead, and a draw would be enough for Real Madrid to retain their privileged position... but not enough to strengthen Xabi Alonso's project.

But at the Bernabéu, there's something else at stake. Something more subjective, more individual. Who is the best player in the world right now? It's been a few weeks since Ousmane Dembélé received the Ballon d'Or, and while few would argue that it was fair—given PSG's incredible season—the reality is that the debate about who is truly the biggest star on the planet seems to revolve around Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal .

In the Frenchman's first year in the white shirt, the battle was unquestionably in the Rocafonda native's favor, even though Mbappé scored five goals in four matches . The overall results were undeniable, and Lamine was instrumental in each and every Clásico.

In this second season of their own personal head-to-head, Kiky has started like a rocket. The top scorer in La Liga with 10 goals and in the Champions League with 5 , he has become the undisputed leader of Real Madrid, completely eclipsing Vinícius. The Catalan, on the other hand, is having a difficult season due to injuries, but every time he touches the ball, he makes a difference, whether with a dribble, an assist, or a goal.

Lamine Yamal celebrates his goals with a crown, but Mbappé wants to show him that he's the king of football. The battle is on.