Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola says Real Madrid are stronger than last season ahead of Saturday's first league El Clasico of the season.
While Guardiola gave his views, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho opted to send his assistant to speak to the media.
Real have won 12 of their first 14 league games and lead the Catalans by three points with a game in hand.
Guardiola said: "We have more at stake, and whoever is behind in the standings always feels a little more pressure."
Since Guardiola took charge, Barcelona have dominated Madrid with seven wins and three draws against only one loss across all competitions.
But the Barca coach feels Saturday's match at the Bernabeu could be their biggest test yet.
"They are stronger than they were last year," he said. "They know each other better, they have spent more time together and know what their coach demands of them.
"Above all we have to defend well, be quick with the transitions and pay attention to factors like the circulation of the ball. It will not be easy because they have a very intense game."
In the league Madrid have scored 49 goals in 14 games, and assistant coach Aitor Karanka said they would play an aggressive, attacking game with three forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria alongside either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain.
Barcelona had the better of last season's tussles, thrashing Real 5-0 in the league and knocking their rivals out of the Champions League. Real's only victory in the last seven meetings came in last season's Copa del Rey final but Barca gained revenge with a 5-4 aggregate victory in the Spanish Super Cup.
"It is not just a match like any other," Karanka said.
"But we are not going to change our way of working whatever the result is tomorrow.
"We could have a lead of four, six or nine points, that would not change our principles. We have to go after the three points like we always do."
MESSI V RONALDO
Messi has 17 goals in 15 league starts this season, while Ronaldo has 17 in 14 games
In all competitions Messi has 27 goals in 23 matches, compared to Ronaldo's 21 in 20
Messi has 207 goals in 292 games in his Barcelona career, while Ronaldo has 107 in 109 for Madrid
Messi has won the Fifa Ballon d'Or for the past two years, while Ronaldo won it in 2008
