Real Madrid under immense pressure as a demanding October awaits | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s defeat in the derby against Atletico Madrid has left more than just three points behind.

The loss at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday evening has dented the team’s momentum and left Jose Mourinho’s side under immense pressure earliy in the season and needing an immediate response.

After taking 15 points from their opening 21, the Merengues now sit six points behind league leaders FC Barcelona, who have won every league match so far.

The defeat has also cost them second place, with Atletico moving above them on 16 points, one more than their neighbours.

Real Madrid had made a respectable start to Mourinho’s first campaign in charge, but two defeats in their opening seven matches have now put greater pressure on the team.

The manner of the latest loss is also a concern. Atletico were the better side for large periods at the Metropolitano, leaving Los Blancos with plenty to address during the international break.

Things are already unraveling. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

A demanding October awaits

The international break gives Mourinho and his players time to assess what went wrong, although the disruption means they will not have the full squad together for much of that period.

Once the players return, there will be little time to recover.

Real Madrid’s first test comes on 10 October against Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu. Just four days later, they travel to Italy to face AS Roma in the Champions League before returning home to play Sevilla on 18 October.

The toughest stretch then begins.

RB Leipzig visit the Bernabeu on 21 October for a Champions League fixture, and only four days later the Spanish capital club travel to the Spotify Camp Nou for the first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona on 25 October.

That means five matches in just 16 days, with very little room for another setback.

Tough tests

The three league fixtures against Villarreal, Sevilla and Barcelona will be particularly important.

Real Madrid need to stop the gap at the top from growing, while their Champions League campaign will also demand attention.

AS Roma and Leipzig come in the middle of that demanding run, following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in their opening European fixture.

Under pressure. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

Real Madrid will finish their difficult October schedule at the Camp Nou and, given the current standings, the match could carry significant weight.

There are still several league rounds to play before then and the table can change considerably, but the six-point gap between the two clubs gives the fixture an added significance.

Barcelona have made a flying start, while Real Madrid have just suffered their first major setback of the season.

The international break gives Mourinho an opportunity to analyse the problems exposed in the derby, but once October begins there will be little time for experimentation.

The next few weeks will provide an early test of whether this Real Madrid side can respond to their first serious setback and keep pace with a Barça team that have started the season perfectly.