Report: Ahead of the clásico, why is Barcelona causing concern within Real Madrid?

Real Madrid is experiencing a different international break after their defeat to Atlético Madrid, which caused the team's first crisis of the season at Valdebebas. José Mourinho has taken advantage of the break to work with the players present in Madrid and to think about the upcoming phase, which will not be easy, as the team faces five matches in 15 days, culminating in the Clasico against FC Barcelona.

The newspaper "Sport" sees the match against Barcelona as highly significant for Real Madrid, especially as the team is currently in fourth place, while Barcelona is six points ahead after seven rounds. Although this gap does not decide the league race at this stage, it reduces the margin for error for Real Madrid and makes any further slip more sensitive.

Real Madrid will begin this series with a match against Villarreal on October 10, then they will visit Roma in the UEFA Champions League on October 14, before hosting Sevilla on October 18, and then RB Leipzig on the 21st of the same month. After four consecutive tests, the team will reach the awaited clash against FC Barcelona at Camp Nou on October 25.

The importance of the clásico increases due to the recent encounters between the two teams and their impact on Real Madrid. The Spanish newspaper indicates that FC Barcelona's match last season was the beginning of the end for Xabi Alonso's tenure, despite Real Madrid winning it, as the balance of competition changed later on, with FC Barcelona finishing the league with 94 points compared to 86 for Real Madrid, before the Catalan team secured the title in the last clásico of the season.

Mourinho knows well the importance of this clash, having played 17 clásicos during his first spell with Real Madrid, achieving five victories, six draws and six defeats. Sport believes that the history of these matches makes the clásico a potential turning point, especially given Real Madrid's desire to avoid a new crisis after the start of the current season.

The sensitivity of the clash is not limited to the sporting aspect, given the strained relations between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in recent years due to the Negreira case and disagreements related to the UEFA Champions League. Sport indicates that the relationship between the two clubs has reached a highly tense stage, while UEFA has received the file prepared by Real Madrid regarding the case.

In light of FC Barcelona's sporting superiority over the past two seasons, along with the current points gap and the increasing tension between the two clubs, the encounter on October 25 gains special importance within Real Madrid. Therefore, the clásico will be an important test for the team at a stage where they are looking to regain their balance before entering a series of crucial matches.