A five-match winning run
Real Madrid’s results since early October are the best of their season. They have beaten Villarreal 1-0 and Sevilla 4-1 at home in La Liga, and Roma 4-3 away and RB Leipzig 4-1 at home in the Champions League. The run culminated in a 2-1 win at the Camp Nou, which [1] described as a statement result. Barcelona have now lost their last two matches, against PSG and Madrid.
The Roma game showed the team’s resilience. [2] describes a comeback from 3-1 down at the Olimpico before the Clásico victory. Madrid still sit behind Barcelona in the league table, according to [3], so the run is as much about catching up as about momentum. Raphinha equalised for Barcelona shortly after Madrid went ahead, and the winner came late, around the 88th minute.
Selection questions for Racing
The good news from training is that Federico Valverde has no muscle injury after medical tests, and José Mourinho can count on him for Sunday, [4]. Valverde was used at right-back in the Clásico, a role that, according to [3], has coincided with Madrid’s best run of the season.
Thibaut Courtois is recovering from flu and is expected to return in goal, which would send Andriy Lunin back to the bench. Lunin played well in a major match after months without action. Arda Güler has a muscle overload but is expected to be available, though his status is listed as doubtful.
In central defence, Marca says Mourinho prefers the Konaté and Huijsen pairing, although that is reported as a rumour rather than a confirmed line-up. Huijsen was excellent at Camp Nou, with 10 clearances, 16 defensive actions, 4 blocks and 37 of 45 passes completed, [5]. Éder Militão is in the final phase of his recovery but has not regained competitive fitness.
An attack rebuilt around Mbappé
Vinicius Junior was sent off against Villarreal for pulling hair and received a four-match suspension, [6]. He missed the Clásico and is also absent from the squad for the trip to Valencia, according to [7]. Mourinho has had to reinvent the front line.
Kylian Mbappé has answered with 14 goals in 13 matches this season, all as a starter, one every 83 minutes, according to [8]. He scored both goals at Camp Nou. Yan Diomandé started on the left in that match and caused the Barcelona defence problems, while Cucurella largely contained Lamine Yamal.
Güler has become a regular starter, with four goals and three assists in 12 appearances. He played 94 minutes in the Clásico and was involved in the build-up to the winner, [9]. If his muscle overload keeps him out, Mourinho loses one of his most productive creators at a time when Vinicius is already missing.
What it means
Madrid are third in La Liga with 24 points from 10 matches, a record of eight wins, no draws and two defeats, with 25 goals scored and 10 conceded. That is a goal difference of +15. Barcelona remain ahead in the table, but the head-to-head win at Camp Nou and a team that has not dropped points in five matches keep Madrid firmly in the title race.
The form says this side can win in different ways. It has taken a 1-0 narrow win, two 4-1 results and two away wins decided late or after a deficit. The defence has conceded just 10 league goals, and Mbappé’s scoring has covered for Vinicius.
The next fixture asks a different question. Santander v Real Madrid on 1 November is a league trip after a draining Clásico and a Champions League run. The squad has had two days off, but Güler is doubtful and Militão is not ready. The site’s forecast for the match locks 24 hours before kick-off. Beyond Racing, [2] lists a November schedule of AEK, Valencia, Celta, PSV and Alavés. Valencia, in the relegation places and still without a home win, host Madrid at a sold-out Mestalla on 7 November.
Sources
- Marca: El Real Madrid pone la directa marca.com ↩
- Marca: El Madrid que nació en Roma marca.com ↩
- Marca: El Clásico corona al mercado blanco marca.com ↩
- Marca: Mou respira: no hay lesión de Fede marca.com ↩
- Marca: Huijsen da un portazo al ruido marca.com ↩
- Marca: El Madrid sigue en alerta roja marca.com ↩
- Marca: Lleno técnico en Mestalla para recibir al Real Madrid... sin Vinicius marca.com ↩
- Marca: Radiografía de los 100 goles de Mbappé con el Real Madrid: el ariete que se fabrica sus propios goles marca.com ↩
- Marca: Los felices 90 de Güler marca.com ↩
