CELTIC legend Henrik Larsson insists the Old Firm derby eclipses El Clasico in terms of significance in the footballing stratosphere.
The Parkhead icon took charge of his first major derby as a manager yesterday as his Helsingborgs side took on local rivals Malmo in the Swedish League.
Larsson has played for Celtic against Rangers, Barcelona against Real Madrid and was also at Old Trafford with Manchester United when they played City.
But he has no doubt which derby outdoes the rest. Larsson said: "Nothing beats the Old Firm derby - it was the game that had everything.
"The atmosphere in the stadium and the entire pulse that surrounds the build-up to the game in the week leading up to it is like nothing else. There's simply no game in the world that compares to it.
"El Clasico was of course big, but the Spanish crowd versus the Scottish fans? No, it was never the same. I used to love playing in these big matches. I made sure I was always ready and prepared for them."
Prolific Larsson netted a goal every other game against the Ibrox side, with 15 goals in 30 appearances against Rangers in his Old Firm games.
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