Six-point gap in La Liga before Sunday's El Clasico

A win at Camp Nou on Sunday would place Barcelona nine points ahead of Real Madrid in the La Liga standings. A loss would allow Madrid to cut its deficit in half. The match marks the first El Clasico of the season for new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.

Barcelona currently holds a six-point lead over its rival. The Spanish champions have awaited this fixture with anticipation. A victory would secure a substantial advantage in the title race. However, the team faces complications after losing its first match of the season on Tuesday. Hansi Flick’s squad was defeated 4-2 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Real Madrid enters the match after winning four consecutive games. The team has lost six of its last seven Clasicos. A victory would reduce the gap to three points and provide a confidence boost. Mourinho, 63, is a veteran of 27 matches against Barcelona and 17 El Clasicos as a manager. He previously led Real Madrid against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010.

Hansi Flick praised Mourinho before the game, noting the Portuguese manager has managed teams at this level for many years with success. Flick acknowledged that his own team is still in an initial phase of development under new leadership. "This is the start of a product," Flick said. "We’re in an initial phase where the coach is learning, analysing, bit by bit defining paths."

Flick stated that the defeat in Paris offered clues on where the team needs improvement. "We have to grow as a team," Flick said. "Tomorrow we play against one of the best teams in the world, so it’s a good opportunity to grow, to challenge ourselves, to improve ourselves and to grow as a team."

Both managers described the upcoming match as unique. Mourinho said that past form does not influence the outcome of an El Clasico. "El Clasico is unique," Mourinho said. "Normally, the football world stops to watch it. Hopefully, it’s a great game and we win."

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez appointed Mourinho to bring the La Liga title back to the Bernabeu for the second time. The first El Clasico of this Mourinho era is set to draw significant attention from cameras and fans alike.