Real Madrid defender Ibrahima Konate, before the Leipzig game, talked about how it is important to win against his former team so that they are in good form heading into the Clásico on the weekend.

Konate was the player who was chosen to speak to the media before the match against Leipzig on Wednesday. Even though the player did not play against his former team, it was good to see him talk about the club for the first time since moving to Madrid in the summer.

He was asked about the match on Wednesday, and his answer was what you would have expected from a player in his first season at the club. He said, “It is very important that we focus on the next match. If we win, we will play better in El Clásico. If we don't, we won't be in good form going into it, but the first thing we have to do is focus on the match against Leipzig. After that match, we will see. We will think about the Clásico.”

Form does not matter when you play a Clasico

It is a good mentality to have, and it is good since Real Madrid ended up winning, but that is also where Konate, unfortunately, made a rookie mistake.

He has yet to figure out that it does not matter what kind of form a club is in going into a Clásico. Real Madrid could be on a 10-match winning run and lose to Barcelona, and Barcelona could also be in a 3- or 4-match losing streak and beat Real Madrid – or vice versa. It is something that, if you watch Real Madrid consistently or you play for Real Madrid, you know. Form means nothing going into such a big game.

It is inevitable that, despite whatever form the two clubs are in, it will always be an incredibly difficult game for whoever is playing. For example, in 2022, Real Madrid were by far the better team out of these two leading up to the match, and the season in general, as well. However, they came out of it losing by four goals at the Bernabéu.

Barcelona won the league in 2023, and they dominated defensively that season. However, in that same season, when they played in the Copa del Rey, they were dismantled 4-0 by Real Madrid. 

Obviously, Konate has only been at the club for a few months, so it is not expected for him to know that these things do not matter much when you understand what is at stake.