Mourinho's Madrid head to Camp Nou for the Clásico without Vinícius

Clásico week: Madrid ready for Camp Nou

Sunday is the big one. Real Madrid travel to Barcelona for the first Clásico of the season on 25 October at 21:00 Spanish time, and the squad is putting the final touches on its preparation at Valdebebas with sessions focused on tactics and finishing. Mundo Deportivo notes what is at stake: we sit six points behind Barcelona, and the paper says a defeat would make the title race much harder.

Mourinho will be without three players. Asencio and Rodrygo are injured, and Vinícius is suspended.

Thibaut Courtois spoke to DAZN about the game. Our goalkeeper admitted recent results in this fixture have not gone our way, and said that taking the win at their ground would send a strong message.

Selection talk

• Valverde at right-back: according to a Marca report picked up by Managing Madrid, Mourinho plans to start the captain at right-back again, as he did in the last two games. This is a report, not confirmed by the club.
• Konaté's partner: Mundo Deportivo says the coach has his eleven mostly in place, but who lines up next to Konaté in central defence is still an open question.
• Diomande in form: Mundo Deportivo highlights Yan Diomande, who heads into his first Clásico in excellent shape and with a growing understanding with Mbappé.
• Arda Güler: Managing Madrid argues Arda is the team's engine. Against Roma he came on in the 58th minute, and the site says he and Bernardo Silva drove the build-up from that point.

Goals and set pieces

The club has been celebrating our form in front of goal, with a video of the 12 goals scored in the last three matches. Mundo Deportivo adds that set pieces could be a real weapon: eight of our 33 goals this season have come from dead balls, around 24 per cent, a higher share than Barcelona's.

Mourinho back at Camp Nou

Sunday also marks José Mourinho's first Clásico at Camp Nou in 13 years. His last one there was in January 2013, in the second leg of a Copa del Rey semi-final. Marca writes that the senior figures in the squad are very happy with how close he is to the group and how he manages it.

Tchouaméni on last season's incident with Valverde

Aurélien Tchouaméni has spoken again about the dressing-room incident with Fede Valverde last season, after which both were disciplined internally. Speaking to Marca, he said there was no fight in the way it was described and called it an ordinary dressing-room moment that got bigger because it happened at Real Madrid. Mundo Deportivo quotes him admitting something ugly happened, while insisting he never hit anyone.

Rumour: Endrick could leave in January

Transfer journalist Matteo Moretto told Marca that a January exit is a real possibility for Endrick, who is still getting little playing time. This is only a rumour for now.

Xabi Alonso looks back

Xabi Alonso, now coaching Chelsea, spoke openly to Marca about leaving Real Madrid last season. He said his time ended earlier than planned, before he could know whether it would turn out well or badly.

Around the club

• Mahou San Miguel deal renewed: the club has extended its partnership with Mahou San Miguel until 2033. Mahou Cinco Estrellas and Solán de Cabras stay on as official sponsors, a relationship that goes back to the 1940s, and the Vamos by Mahou brand joins the deal.
• Basketball records: our basketball team beat Maccabi with a club record for three-pointers in the EuroLeague, and broke its three-point records in both the League and the EuroLeague in the space of four days.
• Di Stéfano: the club held a tribute at the Alfredo Di Stéfano for its U-20 World Cup and U-19 European champions. Tenerife are also the next visitors there, with the squad named after a final training session.
• Foundation: the president welcomed students from the Real Madrid Foundation schools in Cambodia to the Bernabéu, and the Foundation is stepping up training for its educators in India.

Hala Madrid from all of us at Peña Madridista Bangladesh. See you on Sunday night.

Sources

• Managing Madrid: Thibaut Courtois on the Clasico: “Winning at their stadium would send a strong message”
• Marca: Xabi Alonso y su salida del Madrid: "Terminó antes de lo previsto y sin saber si iba a terminar bien o mal..."
• Real Madrid (official): 12 goals in 3 matches
• Managing Madrid: Arda Güler Is Real Madrid’s Motor
• Real Madrid (official): Real Madrid-Tenerife aiming for another victory at the Di Stéfano
• Real Madrid (official): Real Madrid continues preparing for El Clásico
• Real Madrid (official): Tribute to the U-20 World Cup and U-19 European Champions at the Di Stéfano
• Real Madrid (official): Final training session before the match against Tenerife
• Real Madrid (official): Real Madrid squad for the match against Tenerife
• Mundo Deportivo: El Real Madrid presume de goles antes del Clásico
• Marca: Mourinho apaga los incendios del vestuario
• Mundo Deportivo: Mourinho vuelve al Camp Nou 13 años después
• Mundo Deportivo: Táctica y remate para preparar el Clásico
• Mundo Deportivo: Así viven el Clásico el madridismo y el vestuario del Real Madrid
• Real Madrid (official): Real Madrid and Mahou San Miguel renew their partnership until 2033
• Mundo Deportivo: Diomande llega en plena forma a su primer Clásico
• Managing Madrid: Valverde set to start El Clásico at right-back -report
• Mundo Deportivo: La pareja de Konaté para el Clásico, otra duda en el once del Real Madrid
• Mundo Deportivo: El balón parado, munición extra para el Real Madrid en el Clásico
• Marca: Matteo Moretto desvela el futuro de Endrick: "Es una posibilidad real para enero"
• Real Madrid (official): Madrid breaks its three-point records in League and EuroLeague within four days
• Real Madrid (official): The president welcomes students from the Real Madrid Foundation schools in Cambodia at the Bernabéu
• Real Madrid (official): Real Madrid defeats Maccabi with a record number of three-pointers in the EuroLeague
• Mundo Deportivo: El Real Madrid renueva con uno de sus patrocinadores
• Real Madrid (official): The Real Madrid Foundation strengthens the training of its educators in India
• Marca: Tchouaméni: "No hubo pelea con Fede Valverde como se dijo"
• Mundo Deportivo: Tchouaméni, sobre su altercado con Valverde: "Hubo algo feo, pero nunca me pegué"