El Clásico is always massive, but even at this early stage of the season, this one feels gigantic.
José Mourinho has built a career on thriving in football’s biggest rivalries, and Sunday’s meeting withBarcelona offers him the chance to make more Real Madrid history.
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The Portuguese coach can become only the third manager in the club’s history to go six consecutive Clásicos unbeaten. More importantly, he must find a way to prevent his side’s title challenge from slipping away before the season has properly gathered pace.
Barcelona host their fiercest rivals with a six-point lead at the top ofLa Liga. Hansi Flick’s side have made a formidable start, winning all nine games and scoring 39 goals in the process. Madrid, in contrast, have recorded only two clean sheets in La Liga this season.
The pressure, therefore, is on the visitors. But Mourinho knows better than most what it takes to compete against Barcelona.
He ended his first spell in Madrid unbeaten in five Clásicos, a run of games only Miguel Muñoz and Vicente del Bosque can better.
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Muñoz oversaw seven straight wins against the Catalans between 1962 and 1965, while Del Bosque did not lose in seven during the early noughties.
More than a decade after his previous spell in the fixture, Mourinho has the chance to join them.
However, personal milestones are far from the priority. Mourinho will know defeat for his side would represent a long road back in the title race.
The title race would not be decided in October, particularly with Atlético Madrid also competing near thetop of the table. But Madrid cannot afford to let their fiercest rivals pull further away.
Mourinho has the opportunity to add another chapter to his complicated relationship with Barcelona. For Madrid, however, the priority is clear: keeping their title ambitions alive.
