Barcelona defender Gerard Pique is in confident mood ahead of this weekend's table-topping showdown against Real Madrid, although that does not mean he is expecting a similar result to the last time they face their bitter rivals in El Clásico.

In May, Barça travelled to the capital boasting a seven-point lead over second-placed Madrid with just five games to go in the race for the Primera Division title and knowing that a victory would probably end their opponents' challenge. However, Madrid also had high hopes as they went into the match on a stunning run of form having earned 52 points from a possible 54 in their previous 18 games.

It proved to be one of the most embarrassing results in Madrid's proud history though, as Barcelona bounced back from an early deficit to record a crushing 6-2 victory over their hapless hosts. Madrid would never recover from that loss, losing each of their final four games to finish nine points adrift of the Catalan giants.

Barça would love a repeat scoreline this weekend, and their impressive 2-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday led to Pique being asked if another 6-2 win was on the cards. However, while the Spain centre-back is confident Barca can take the three points and reclaim top spot back off Madrid, he insists that famous win at the Bernabeu has no bearing on this weekend's game.

Pique, who scored the final goal in that 6-2 win, told El Mundo Deportivo: "It's a nice memory, but on Sunday we have to leave the past behind and focus on the game, which is very important and will be very difficult. But I'm also sure that we will come out on top.

I think that they are more solid defensively. They are finding it harder to build their play, but on the other hand they are dominating games more than last year.
Gerard Pique on Real Madrid

"The result against Inter was very good for the team because it gives us confidence and calm. To have Champions League qualification on track allows us to be fully focussed on getting a good result in the Clásico. In football many things happen that you cannot control, but we will go out to win and to regain the league leadership."

Madrid will also be a totally different beast to the one Barça faced seven months ago, with Manuel Pellegrini having replaced Juande Ramos as coach and €250 million worth of new players being brought in this summer. Most of that money went on attacking talent, but it is at the back that Pique believes Real have improved considerably compared to last season.

"I think that they are more solid defensively. They are finding it harder to build their play, but on the other hand they are dominating games more than last year, when they played a lot on the counter-attack," he said. "This year it will be more difficult to beat them to the league because they know more about us and they are still adapting as a team."

Pique is likely to come face-to-face with his former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo again this weekend, with the Portugal international having last night made his comeback after two months out injured with an ankle problem. Pique admits the world's most expensive player could pose problems for his side, but the towering centre-back insists he is more concerned about his own team, who could have their own superstars Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic back after injuries.

"They are trying to make out that with Cristiano they are a better team, but I'm not thinking about that. I'm thinking about my team, that whoever we play we can win, about recovering our injured players and treating all opponents the same. If we play well, then it's normal for us win," said Pique, who has already got one over his ex-colleague after helping Barça beat United in last season's Champions League final.

"It's true that I know him well. I trained with him for three or four years and I've seen the games that he's played here. It's true that he is a danger because he is one of the top three players in the world and can do the unexpected, but we will defend against him as best as possible."