Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain believes a lot has changed since last season's humiliating defeat to Barcelona.
The two sides are locked together on 77 points heading into Saturday night's clash at the Bernabeu which is live on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1 .
Madrid are top only on goal difference but they know all too well that their top-of-the-table status could easily slip from their grasp.
They were thumped 6-2 by Barca last season who eventually went on to win the title.
Higuain, though, doesn't expect lightening to strike twice, insisting Madrid are better prepared for this season's 'El Clasico' showdown.
Confidence"There has been a big change," he told AS . "There are new players, a new coach and, above all, a great run of victories that have given us a lot of confidence."
Madrid crumbled towards the end of last season, losing their final four fixtures after defeat to Barca.
Higuain knows the match will have an important bearing once again but he believes it will by no means determine which way the championship will go.
"It's a vital game, but not decisive," he said.
"Winning a Clasico gives you a big morale boost for the games that follow, (but) there are 21 points left afterwards, which are enough to say that the game will not be definitive.
"They (Barca) have almost no weaknesses, or at least very few, which we hope to expose. We have the ability to do that."
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