Mourinho aims to break Real Madrid's losing streak in Sunday's El Clasico

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho will lead his team against Barcelona on Sunday at Camp Nou. The match marks a return to the fixture for the 63-year-old Portuguese coach, who has managed 17 El Clasicos in his career. Barcelona currently sits at the top of La Liga, holding a six-point advantage over Real Madrid. A win for the home side would extend that lead to nine points.

The league leaders face a challenge after their first defeat of the season. Hansi Flick's team lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. That loss interrupted a strong start to the campaign. Flick told reporters that the team identified specific areas for improvement during that match. He described the upcoming game as a chance to grow as a unit after being together for only about two months.

Real Madrid enters the match on a winning streak. The club has won four consecutive matches. A victory would reduce the gap to Barcelona from six points to three. It would also end a run in which Real Madrid has lost six of the last seven Clasicos. Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, hired Mourinho in 2010. He will hope the manager can bring the La Liga title back to the Bernabeu for a second time.

Flick expressed high regard for Mourinho ahead of the match. He said he expected a confident opponent. Flick noted that success over many years defines a coach's quality. He acknowledged that his own squad is still in an initial phase of development. He argued that comparing his team to more established sides is unfair given their short time working together.

Both managers agreed on the unique nature of the event. Flick called El Clasico the best match in their sport. He noted that while the game counts for three points, its importance goes beyond the league table. Mourinho agreed, stating that past performance has no influence in this specific rivalry. He said the football world stops to watch the match. He expressed hope for a great game and a win for his side.

The atmosphere at Camp Nou is expected to be intense. Cameras will focus heavily on Mourinho's sideline decisions. His first stint at Real Madrid coincided with some of the most heated encounters in the history of the rivalry. The current season has seen significant turbulence for Barcelona leading up to this final approach. Real Madrid, by contrast, has maintained steady form. The outcome will determine the shape of the league title race for the remainder of the season.