Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Real Madrid go into the first Clasico of the season against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday under intense pressure to win.
If they lose, their title bid for the 2017-18 campaign will be all but over. An inconsistent start to the season, paired with an unbeaten run for Barca, sees Los Blancos 11 points behind the league-leading Blaugrana.
Real have a game in hand after missing last weekend's La Liga fixtures to win the FIFA Club World Cup, reports Bleacher Report.
However, should Barcelona win on Saturday and stretch their lead over Los Blancos to 14 points, it will be difficult to see a way back into the race for Zinedine Zidane's champions.
The match will be held on December 23 at 1200 GMT (1800 Bangladesh time).