Real Madrid head into a packed week of fixtures with Jose Mourinho making clear that selection is earned, not assumed. Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match against RB Leipzig, the Portuguese manager told his squad that no player, including Vinicius Junior, is guaranteed a starting place. The message was direct and deliberate, reinforcing that Mourinho intends to keep his squad on edge as the fixture schedule intensifies.

The backdrop to that warning is encouraging. Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1 at the Bernabeu last weekend, with teenage midfielder Yan Diomande the standout performer. That win kept Los Blancos third in La Liga with 21 points from nine games, one behind Atletico Madrid. Their European campaign is also building, with a 4-3 win at Roma in their previous Champions League outing underlining both their attacking threat and the defensive vulnerabilities Mourinho will want addressed.

Mourinho has also played down expectations in Europe, stating that qualifying for the knockout rounds is the immediate target rather than dreaming of the trophy itself. Leipzig arrive at the Bernabeu having been thrashed 6-1 by Bayern Munich last weekend, though their 1-0 win over PSV shows they can compete when focused.

Beyond Wednesday, El Clasico at Camp Nou on October 25 looms large. Barcelona lost 4-2 to PSG on Tuesday and face a fitness scare over Dani Olmo, who is suspected to have suffered an adductor tear. For Madrid, the week ahead could define the tone of their entire season.