Mourinho's team faces two decisive months with three of the next four matches at home before embarking on four away games, starting with the Clásico at Camp Nou on October 25.
The Real Madrid returns to competition this Saturday after the international break with the mission of correcting its course away from the Santiago Bernabéu. José Mourinho's side has lost two of its four league away games (2-1 against Atlético at the Metropolitano and 1-0 against Betis at La Cartuja), and in the other two, in Cornellà and Martínez Valero, they secured victory with last-minute goals from Spanish forward Carlos Espí, as reported by Notimérica.
The standings reflect the impact of those setbacks: the white team is five points behind FC Barcelona, which has yet to drop any points. Additionally, the defence is struggling to solidify, with only one clean sheet in the first eight matches of the season, that being the 4-0 against Málaga at home. During this stretch, Belgian Thibaut Courtois has made 28 saves, averaging more than three per match.
The immediate calendar offers some respite. Three of the next four fixtures will be at home, making the Bernabéu the venue where the team must regain form and not drop any more points. The first is this Saturday against Villarreal CF at 21:00.
Then, on Wednesday 14 at 21:00, the team will visit AS Roma in the Champions League, the only away trip in the next two weeks. Upon return, they will host Sevilla FC on Sunday 18 (21:00) and RB Leipzig in Europe on Wednesday 21 (21:00).
The turning point will come on October 25 with the Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou. That match opens a series of four consecutive away games, coinciding with the NFL game at the Bernabéu and presenting a demanding stretch for the team's aspirations.
After the clash against Barça, Real Madrid will return to El Sardinero 15 years later to face Real Racing Club on Sunday, November 1, at 16:15. Four days later, on Wednesday 4 at 21:00, they will visit AEK at the Allwyn Arena in Athens, 24 years after their last match there.
The marathon away from home will conclude on November 8 at Mestalla against Valencia CF, a ground where the white team has only won three of its last eight league visits. The team will not return to their stadium until November 22, against RC Celta.
The precedent from last season invites caution. In a similar situation, with more than a month without playing at home, Real Madrid played six away matches between the league and Champions League and only won two, against Olympiacos (3-4) and Athletic Club (0-2), with draws in Vallecas (0-0), Elche (2-2), and Girona (1-1), and a loss at Anfield (1-0).
The first step to avoid repeating that script will be taken this Saturday at the Bernabéu against Villarreal, starting at 21:00.
You may also like
