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Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has dismissed suggestions that his side should already be at the same level as Barcelona, labelling such comparisons as "unfair" ahead of Sunday's showdown. The Portuguese tactician faces a tough test at Camp Nou with his team trailing the league leaders by six points in the La Liga standings.

The tension ahead of the latest edition of El Clasico has reached boiling point after Thibaut Courtois launched a scathing assessment of Barcelona's conduct. As both Spanish giants prepare for a pivotal showdown at the summit of La Liga, the Belgian goalkeeper has claimed there is a distinct lack of class coming from the Catalan camp.

Former Barcelona youth coach Pau Moral believes breakout defender Xavi Espart possesses the tactical awareness required to keep Real Madrid winger Yan Diomande quiet in Sunday's La Liga clash. The versatile youngster enters the first El Clasico of the campaign in fine form after netting his maiden Champions League goal against PSG in midweek.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has reflected on his whirlwind tenure at Real Madrid, admitting that his dismissal from the Santiago Bernabeu dugout felt premature. The Spaniard, who arrived with a burgeoning reputation from Bayer Leverkusen, saw his stint in the Spanish capital cut short despite being active in multiple competitions.