Barca vs Madrid threatened by political protest

This clasico promises to be like none other. Unfortunately, it may not be for the goals scored by Lionel Messi's Barcelona or Karim Benzema's Real Madrid.

Catalan separatists are planning to gather in large numbers around Camp Nou and possibly carry out actions inside Barcelona's stadium on Wednesday when Real Madrid comes to play in one of the most watched matches of the season.

More than 25,000 protesters have agreed to gather outside Camp Nou, according to the on-line separatist platform Tsunami Democratic. The group says there will also be protesters among the spectators at the 99,000 seat stadium.

Police have prepared a 3,000 strong special detail involving police and private security staff to try to ensure that the team buses can arrive on time and that nothing interrupts the match.

The match was already postponed from its original date on Oct 26 because of fears that separatists, then in the midst of a week of violent protests, would disrupt the game.

The clubs are level at the top of the Spanish standings ahead of the game after a weekend in which both were held to draws. Barcelona was held 2-2 at Real Sociedad on Saturday, and Madrid needed a last gasp goal by Benzema to draw 1-1 at Valencia on Sunday.

Besides several thrilling showdowns between the powerhouse clubs, this century has seen some highly-charged clasicos in Barcelona that got out of control. The most outlandish was former Barcelona star Luis Figos return in a Madrid kit in 2000. The Portugal forward was welcomed by a showering of trash, including a pig's head, at him by his spurned former fans. A close second place goes ex-Madrid manager Jose

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Mourinho poking then Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye during a mass brawl between the teams in 2011. Barcelona has not lost a game to Madrid in six consecutive league meetings, while Madrid's last win at Camp Nou in the league was in April 2014.

Last season, Barcelona routed Madrid 5-1 without the injured Messi. Madrid then drew 1-1 at Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, only to lose 3-0 in the second leg at home.

Barcelona spent $134 million this summer to trigger the escape clause in Antoine Griezmann's contract with Atltico Madrid with the hope of finding a third world class scoring talent after Philippe Coutinho failed to fit the bill.