Geremi rates derby tops April 19 2008
Newcastle midfielder Geremi believes Sunday's derby clash with Sunderland is even bigger than Real Madrid's rivalry with Barcelona.
The 29-year-old knows all about the competition between the two giants of Spanish football having played for Los Merengues against Barca during his time at the Bernabeu.
That fixture may not be a traditional derby, but the stakes could not be higher in the domestic game in Spain.
However, Geremi admits the Black Cats' visit to St James' Park will outweigh anything he experienced in Madrid.
He said: "The derby game is something special and I know what it means for the fans. Each derby means a lot to every team.
"When I was with Real Madrid, I played in the derby against Barcelona, which is very big. But in Newcastle, the game against Sunderland is bigger than Real Madrid v Barcelona.
"It depends on each club, and we know it is going to be a big derby. Derbies are played away from the pitch, when people talk a lot, and then on the pitch, when we can do our talking."
Geremi has proved a key member of the team which has belatedly provided new manager Kevin Keegan with the kind of football and results he hoped for since succeeding Sam Allardyce at the helm in January.
The Cameroonian was used only as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light in November, and has since seen his captain's armband handed to Alan Smith and then Michael Owen.
However, he will be alone in the two starting line-ups this weekend in having scored the winner in a North-East derby.
That came a little more than five years ago when, during his year on loan from Real at Middlesbrough, Geremi headed the only goal of the game to condemn his current employers to defeat.
He said: "I can remember that header very well, but I am a Newcastle player now and I would love to do the same against Sunderland tomorrow."