Mourinho’s Real Madrid playing catch-up in Clasico countdown

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho’s team is trailing leaders Barcelona by six points as La Liga action resumes this weekend. This marks the start of the countdown to the Clasico after an extended international break. Since Mourinho returned to the helm of Los Blancos, Real Madrid has struggled, suffering defeats at Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, leaving them fourth in the table after seven games.

Mourinho expressed his desire to be first rather than second, third, fourth, or fifth during the international break, blaming officials for his team's issues. However, the pressure mounts as Real Madrid faces four tough matches ahead, including hosting Villarreal and Sevilla in La Liga, and playing against Roma and RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

Barcelona also faces a challenging lead-up to the Clasico, with difficult league games against Getafe and Betis, as well as away matches against Galatasaray and Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, Barcelona has been dominant, winning every match so far with a striking force that has scored 31 goals in seven league games. The key issues for Mourinho include the form of Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior, who has struggled to score, and superstar striker Kylian Mbappe, who has had a minor knee injury and faced criticism from fans for promoting his Ballon d'Or candidacy.

Additionally, Real Madrid's defensive problems have been evident, with only one clean sheet in eight matches across all competitions. Mourinho has previously criticized his team's inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, and recent complaints about refereeing decisions have only added to the pressure. Despite these challenges, Mourinho remains optimistic and believes his team can compete on equal terms if given the opportunity.