Following the league clash, the big two meet again on Wednesday in Valencia for the final of the Copa del Rey, before a Champions League semi-final double-header starting a week later.

Puyol’s fitness had been the big question mark for Guardiola, but the 33-year-old defender – who has been missing in all of Barca’s defeats this season – trained on Friday and could make a return from injury tomorrow following three months on the sidelines.

“The Puyol thing was a surprise for us as well,” the Barca coach said this evening.

“When we were in Donetsk (for the Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie against Shakhtar), we received news that he had greatly improved and he has got even better in the last few days – he is called up and tomorrow we will decide if he plays.”

Puyol had been expected to be a big doubt for the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday and although the skipper is unlikely to start tomorrow, he may be given a run-out at the Bernabeu.

“He’s been out for a long time, but he’s our captain,” Guardiola said.

“He has been in pain up until now, but now that’s gone and that’s why we have decided to call him up.”

Barca take an eight-point lead into tomorrow’s match with seven rounds of the championship remaining, but Guardiola says his side will set out to win the match and secure a sixth straight Clasico victory.

“We will set out to win and I expect Madrid to play with a lot of intensity,” he said.

“And I have the feeling that we will have to win the game in order to win the league.”

And defeat, says the Barca boss, is unthinkable.

“In a week you can lose absolutely everything,” he said.

“We have to do what we always go – go out to win. We can’t lose at the Bernabeu.”

Earlier on Friday, Jose Mourinho refused to speak at Madrid’s pre-match press conference, but Guardiola – always diplomatic in front of the media – was keen to avoid that topic of conversation.

“I don’t want you to ask me about that,” he told one journalist.

Earlier he had said: “Everyone does what he thinks is best for his team and it’s not the first time he has sent his assistant coach out to speak to the press.”

Guardiola led his side to an historic 5-0 win over Madrid earlier on this season, but the Barca boss believes Mourinho’s men have improved since then.

“They are better than they were in the first half of the season,” he said.

“They are more powerful, they shoot more, they are faster – and they have many ways of playing.”

And he warned: “I’ve lost 5-0 at the Bernabeu (as a player) – if they are superior, they beat you.”

Each game in the series of four is more important than the last, but Guardiola says he is focused only on tomorrow’s match at the moment.

“They are different games in different competitions – it’s not a play-off,” he said.

“I’m not thinking beyond this game right now.”

And he expects Madrid to pose a big threat to his side in tomorrow’s match.

“It’s impossible to avoid them counter-attacking or creating chances against us,” he said.

“Even their theoretic second team would be challenging for the league title.”

The Barca boss is therefore taking absolutely nothing for granted.

“Nothing is decided yet, not by a long way,” he added.

“We could win a title, win two titles, or lose all three.”