Real Madrid seeks six-point reduction in Sunday Camp Nou clash

Real Madrid enters Sunday's league match at Camp Nou with a goal to halve its deficit against Barcelona. A win would close the current six-point gap to three points and break a streak in which Madrid has lost six of the last seven El Clasico encounters.

Barcelona, the reigning Spanish champions, currently holds the top spot in La Liga. A victory on Sunday would extend that lead to nine points. The match presents a challenge for Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, whose team suffered its first defeat of the season on Tuesday. They lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

By contrast, Real Madrid has won its last four matches. Manager Jose Mourinho returns to this fixture after being appointed by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez in 2010. The 63-year-old has managed 17 El Clasicos from the Real Madrid bench. His first tenure at the club coincided with a period of intense rivalry between the two sides.

Flick acknowledged the momentum behind his opponents before the game. He stated that he expects a Madrid side arriving with "a lot of confidence." Flick also noted that his own team is in an initial phase of development. He said the squad is in a state where the coach is analyzing and defining paths, while players are learning about the coach.

The manager addressed the recent setback in Paris. Flick said the team analyzed the 4-2 loss and identified specific areas for improvement. He viewed the upcoming match as an opportunity to grow as a unit against one of the world's best teams.

Both managers described the fixture as unique. Flick called El Clasico the best match in the sport, noting that its importance goes far beyond the three points at stake. Mourinho agreed, stating that previous form does not influence the result in this specific rivalry. He said the football world stops to watch the game and expressed hope for a high-quality contest that ends in a Real Madrid victory.