Real and Barca prepare for El Clasico

Cristiano Ronaldo says Real Madrid are ready to face arch rivals Barcelona in the Nou Camp on Monday for the first of the Spanish season's "Clasico" games.

Real lead La Liga, having won ten and drawn two, but Barca remain just a point behind. Monday's game will match up not only two of the game's most influential coaches in Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, but also two of the world's best players in Ronaldo and Barcelona's Argentinian Lionel Messi.

Former World Player of the Year Ronaldo has put together an incredible run of goals for Real since the start of October, scoring 17 in 12 matches.

"It will be a fantastic game," he predicted. "We are in a good moment, we are in good shape, we are strong, we are confident. We play away against a fantastic team, we know it is going to be a difficult game but it is not a problem for us.

Ronaldo refused to be drawn on the controversy surrounding the red cards shown to two Real players during the latter stages of the Champions League victory over Ajax in midweek.

Mourinho and four Real Madrid players have been charged by UEFA with improper conduct amid allegations that the two Madrid players, defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso, deliberately got sent off. Goalkeepers Iker Casillas and Jerzy Dudek are also being investigated.

In the Catalan capital, Barca captain Carles Pujol was predicting an entertaining game: "People always talk about the game of the century. But it is true that both teams are going through a very good moment, with confidence, not many injuries. I think we'll see a very good match," he said.

After a relatively slow start, Barcelona looked close to their brilliant best in an 8-0 win away to Almeria last weekend.

Guardiola's side followed that up by thumping Panathinaikos 3-0 in the Champions League to secure a place in the last 16 as group winners. They have scored 33 goals in their 12 league games, conceding just eight.