Modric: I hope to console Rakitic

Luka Modric hopes he has to console Croatia team-mate Ivan Rakitic once El Clasico is over on Sunday.

Real Madrid meet Barcelona in world football's biggest match at Santiago Bernabeu, with Zinedine Zidane's side sitting three points clear of their rivals at the top of LaLiga with a game in hand.

Modric is yet to win the league with Madrid since signing in 2012 and thinks this is the season to end that run.

The midfielder revealed he has not been in conversation with his friend Rakitic in the build-up to the game, but plans to chat after the match, by which point he hopes Madrid have taken a huge step towards title glory.

"I have not spoken to Rakitic, we are all preparing for the game in peace," Modric told Sportske novosti.

"We will hug and talk after the match – hopefully I will have to console him.

"We never get enough tickets for El Clasico, everyone wants to come and watch this match."

Modric cannot wait for the chance to face Barca, a side he believes are at a significant disadvantage playing without the suspended Neymar.

"It is a big handicap for them to play without Neymar, but we have to look at ourselves," said Modric.

"The title in LaLiga is the only one I still don't have with Real and I believe the time has come."

Zidane has registered a win and a draw in his first two Clasicos since becoming Madrid boss, both games taking place at Camp Nou.