Millions to watch ‘El Clasico’

The hype around the La Liga ‘Clasico’ between Barcelona and Real Madrid continues to burst through all barriers — with millions worldwide due to tune in this afternoon to see Lionel Messi and company take on Cristiano Ronaldo and his colleagues.

This week even brought news that the fixture forms a central part of Iraq’s official foreign-language Oscar submission for 2016. El Clasico features two brothers, one a Madrid fan and the other a Barcelona supporter, who set out on a road trip to try and meet Cristiano Ronaldo — with one brother hoping to win his sweetheart’s hand in marriage by presenting the Portugal captain with a pair of traditional homemade shoes.

The Norway/Iraq co-production features a scene set in Kurdistan where the would-be bride’s father, a huge Madrid fan, watches his team take on Barcelona live on TV.