Five wins and a statement at Camp Nou
Real Madrid go to El Sardinero in the best form of their season. [1] counts five consecutive victories: Villarreal, Sevilla and Barcelona in La Liga, and Roma and Leipzig in the Champions League. The 2-1 win at Camp Nou on 25 October is described as a statement result, and it left Barcelona with two straight defeats, to PSG and Madrid.
The run has been high-scoring. Our records show Madrid beat Villarreal 1-0, won 4-3 at Roma, beat Sevilla 4-1, beat Leipzig 4-1 and then won in Barcelona. Counting three Champions League games against Inter, Roma and Leipzig, [2] reports that Madrid have scored 35 goals this season, nearly 2.7 per game. In the league alone it is 25 goals in 10 matches.
The season has not been flawless. The same report notes two league defeats, to Betis and Atlético de Madrid. The current streak has erased much of the damage from those, but it also raises the stakes for any slip at a ground where the hosts will be motivated.
Selection: Courtois returns, Valverde and Trent in focus
The most useful piece of team news concerns the goalkeeper. [3] reports that Thibaut Courtois is expected to return for Sunday’s match after missing the Clásico with a flu-like illness. That is a confirmed expectation rather than an official line-up, so it is worth rechecking nearer kick-off.
The bigger question is in midfield. Federico Valverde left the Clásico in the 62nd minute with a muscular discomfort that had been bothering him since the early minutes, according to [4]. The report lists his status as doubtful. This matters because Mourinho has been using Valverde on the right side of midfield, a tactical shift that has pushed Trent Alexander-Arnold down the order.
Trent has made only four starts this season and played 53 minutes across the last five matches, falling behind Denzel Dumfries and Valverde. The same report says several clubs, mainly English, are reportedly interested and may test for him in January, though he says he is not considering leaving. That is a rumour, not a development. If Valverde misses out, though, Trent’s role on Sunday becomes a real selection question.
One further absence: [5] reports Vinicius Junior is missing from the squad for the Valencia match because he is serving a four-match suspension after the Villarreal game. The input does not say whether that ban also covers the trip to Santander, so treat his availability as unconfirmed.
What Racing say about the Sardinero test
Racing’s midfielder André Almeida told Radio MARCA that his side believes it can surprise Real Madrid at El Sardinero, according to [6]. He also praised José Mourinho’s ability to motivate players. He admitted that Racing is finding it harder to pick up points away from home.
That last point cuts both ways. A side that struggles on the road may be more dangerous in front of its own crowd, and Almeida’s tone suggests Racing intend to treat this as an occasion rather than a formality. The article contains no injury, selection or transfer news for Racing, so we cannot say who will be missing on their side.
For Madrid, the challenge is less about talent than about concentration after a demanding run. They have played away at Roma and Barcelona and hosted Leipzig in the space of two weeks, and a trip to a motivated home side is the kind of fixture where a rotated or patched-up line-up can lose rhythm.
What it means
Madrid sit third in La Liga with 24 points from 10 games: eight wins, no draws and two defeats, with 25 goals scored and 10 conceded. A goal difference of plus 15 shows the attack is producing, and the defence has conceded fewer than a goal a game.
Form backs that up. Five wins from five, four of them by a margin of two goals or more or in high-scoring games, suggest a team in rhythm. The caveat is the absences. Vinicius is suspended for the Valencia game, Valverde is doubtful, and Courtois is only expected to return.
The next fixture, Santander v Real Madrid on 1 November, asks whether depth can sustain the streak. Our forecast for the game locks 24 hours before kick-off, so check back then for the model’s call. The match after that, at Valencia on 7 November, looks like a chance to extend the run: Marca says Valencia are in the relegation places and have yet to win at home this season.
Sources
- Marca: El Real Madrid pone la directa marca.com ↩
- Marca: Mou se mira en la Liga de los Récords marca.com ↩
- Marca: Courtois sube al podio marca.com ↩
- Marca: Trent pierde el paso, pero no contempla una salida del Madrid... de momento marca.com ↩
- Marca: Lleno técnico en Mestalla para recibir al Real Madrid... sin Vinicius marca.com ↩
- Marca: André Almeida y el desafío del Racing ante la vuelta del Madrid al Sardinero: “No tenemos miedo a nadie” marca.com ↩
