Three tricky away tests await Real Madrid after international break

Given the nature of the fixture list calendar, Real Madrid will return from the current international break and have to prepare for three key games, all away from home (two in LaLiga and one in the Champions League).

The brief break from the Bernabéu will see the ongoing renovation work to continue at pace as the old seating will be replaced and work will continue on installing the the 360-degree electronic scoreboards.

In the first there will be three matches away from the Bernabéu, (Saturday, 21 October), Ancelotti’s men will travel to face Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán with the Andalusian side having hired new coach Diego Alonso who will be looking to make a solid start against the current league leaders.

Three days later, the squad will fly to Porto to face nearby Sporting Braga on the third matchday of the Champions League. The Portuguese side are tied on points with Napoli after recording a last minute win away at Union Berlin (2-3).

The final part of the ‘awaydays’ trilogy takes place on Saturday (28th) at Montjuïc with Madrid beating Barcelona (0-4) the last time both sides met in official competition (Copa del Rey) but the Blaugrana getting revenge with 3-0 win during the friendly game as part of the American summer tour.

Ancelotti’s men then return to action at the Bernabéu for three back-to-back games as they take on city rivals Rayo Vallecano on 5 November. Three days later they will host Sporting de Braga in the Champions League in the Castellana based stadium and close the run of home games at home to Valencia (11-12 November).