Madrid visits Camp Nou to cut lead

Spanish football has long centered on the rivalry between its two largest clubs. That rivalry resumes this Sunday as Real Madrid travels to Barcelona's Camp Nou.

Real Madrid enters the match with a six-point deficit behind the league leaders. A victory would reduce that gap to three points. The visitors have won their last four league matches. Barcelona, by contrast, suffered their first loss of the season this week. Hansi Flick's team fell 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Jose Mourinho returns to the fixture as Real Madrid's manager. The 63-year-old previously managed the club from 2010 to 2013. During that first spell, he oversaw 17 El Clasicos. Florentino Perez appointed Mourinho in 2010 to challenge Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. Perez hopes the Portuguese manager can bring the La Liga title back to the Bernabeu for a second time. Cameras will focus on Mourinho throughout the match. He has played in 27 matches against Barcelona and managed 17 of those fixtures from the bench.

Hansi Flick acknowledged the confidence Real Madrid carries into the game. He stated that he expected a side arriving with a lot of confidence. Flick noted that his team has only been together for about two months. He argued that comparing his current squad to more established sides is unfair. The Barcelona manager said the team is in an initial phase where players are learning the coach's methods.

Flick used the loss in Paris to identify areas for improvement. He said the team analyzed the game and saw situations where they must grow. He described Sunday's match as a good opportunity to challenge themselves. Both managers called the fixture unique. Flick stated that while the teams play for three points, the importance of the match goes far beyond that.

Mourinho said that recent form does not matter in this specific contest. He noted that Real Madrid has been in a good dynamic, winning games and scoring goals. However, he emphasized that in El Clasico, previous results have no influence. The manager said the football world stops to watch the game. He hoped for a great match and a win for his side.

The match will determine if Barcelona extends their lead to nine points. Real Madrid aims to close the gap to three. The result will also mark the first El Clasico under Mourinho's current tenure at the Bernabeu.