Barcelona Seeks Nine-Point Gap Over Real Madrid in El Clasico

Barcelona can push their La Liga advantage over Real Madrid to nine points by securing a win in Sunday's El Clasico at Camp Nou. The Spanish champions are poised to take a major step toward the title if they succeed.

The buildup to this weekend's encounter has been unsettled for Hansi Flick's squad, which suffered a 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. That match marked Barcelona's first loss of the campaign.

Real Madrid enters the contest riding a four-match winning streak. A victory on Sunday would cut the current six-point deficit in half while boosting a team that has dropped six of the last seven Clasicos.

The return of Jose Mourinho to this fixture commands the spotlight. The 63-year-old manager has faced Barcelona 27 times and has stood on the Real Madrid bench for 17 El Clasicos.

Real Madrid President Floretino Perez originally brought Mourinho in during 2010 to challenge Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. He is now counting on the Portuguese manager to bring the La Liga title back to the Bernabeu for a second occasion.

Mourinho's initial tenure in Madrid coincided with some of the most volatile moments in the modern history of this rivalry. Cameras will be tracking his movements closely at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Flick addressed the challenge ahead, stating he expects a Madrid side arriving with a lot of confidence. He also noted he holds the highest respect for the Portuguese manager. Regarding his own team's development, Flick said he is in an initial phase where the coach is learning and analyzing. He added that the players are learning about the coach and that comparing a team in this state to more established sides is unfair.

Following the loss in Paris, Flick said the match provided clues about areas needing improvement. He stated that while his side did many things well, there are situations where they must improve. He called Sunday a chance to challenge themselves and grow as a team.

Both managers anticipate an incredible and unique contest. Flick said El Clasico is the best match in our sport and everyone will watch it. Mourinho stated that previous results do not matter once the Clasico begins, noting that the football world stops to watch it. He added that hopefully it is a great game and they win.

Sunday's match will be played at Camp Nou. The kickoff time has not been specified.