This weekend, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid go head-to-head for the sixth time in 2014. But for reigning European champions Real, they go into the match amid a backdrop of instability - of their own making one should add.
Cristiano Ronaldo and the president Florentino Perez seem to be at loggerheads over the scatter-gun transfer policy.
"There is a massive amount of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do to compensate for the organisational and positional command that Xabi Alonso brought. And Di Maria provided the magic and intelligence while working double hard. He became equal to Ronaldo as the most important player last season."
Highlighting how Real Sociedad overran Real before the international break, Graham is optimistic about Atletico's chances this weekend based on the way in which the Colchoneros held off their city rivals in the Supercopa.
Graham also gave his take on Spain's first win since the disappointing World Cup and picked out the encouraging aspects from the 5 - 1 win over Macedonia in the post-Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Villa era.
Citing youngsters like Jese, Alvaro Morata and Thiago Alcantara, Graham believes there is plenty of talent accustomed to the system who can step up to the plate at senior level.
But it's Barcelona youngster Munir El Haddadi who has really sprung forward into the reckoning on the back of a promising start to the season under Luis Enrique. He was called up to the last Spain squad for that Macedonia match and made his debut as a substitute.
"He's shot through in a way that nobody at Barcelona has done since Leo Messi did," said Graham, who described Munir as striker with the elegant movement of a Michael Laudrup and the finishing of a centre-forward.
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