FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola on Sunday said he was expecting a 'marvelous' game when his side entertains bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Camp Nou Stadium on Monday night.

Real Madrid come to Barcelona top of the table and unbeaten under the guidance of Jose Mourinho and Barca must win if they are to overtake their rivals.

Expectation has been building for over a week and at 9pm local time on Monday, the country will grind to a halt as people sit in front of their televisions while 98,000 fans will pack the ground for an event Guardiola believes will be well worth seeing.

"I expect it to be a marvelous game against a very good rival," said Guardiola in his pre-match press conference.

"I know the fans will be come and it is an honor to be able to play in front of millions of people," he said in the Barcelona press room, adding that he expected the fans to behave properly towards Mourinho, who is deeply unpopular with the Barcelona supporters.

Guardiola has won his four matches against Real Madrid since becoming Barcelona coach two years ago, but warned that he would have to be on the losing side sooner or later.

"Mourinho knows we will go out to attack them and they will attack us when they can," he said, insisting Barcelona would stay true to its attacking style of play.

"If we lose I want to be able to say that we have been Barca," promised Guardiola. The coach believes he knows what to expect from Mourinho who masterminded Barca's exit from last season' s Champions League while coaching Inter Milan.

"I see Mourinho the same as always. I am sure he has given a lot of good things to his players. Madrid has always been a side that knows how to counter attack and they will continue to be so. They have always had fast players. I know what Mourinho did with Inter Milan last year."

"Madrid has always had a good team and they always will have, but we have a formula that is the same as always. That is what has won us titles and also the admiration of so many people," said Guardiola.