You are right. 9 points is a huge interval in the table. Barcelona are in very good form this season; they are in form where they can beat any team that they play with. Barcelona will not make any mistake to lose three matches and leave the space for Real Madrid, where as I’m still doubting if Real Madrid will be getting back and get the first position, because while they are in the process of restoring their performance, Barcelona will still be getting more points that will make it difficult for Real Madrid to catch up on the table.
The thing is even if Barcelona somehow drops points, Madrid will also still drop points too. Currently, Madrid is so horrible that it looks like it will get worse. There seems to be no unity or chemistry among the team and to add to that they are plagued with injuries.
I believe Carlo Ancelloti will be sacked before the end of the season. I expected him to leave on a high not at the end of last season but he didn't. I feel like he is out of ideas at this point.
Right now, the only hope that Madrid has is that they actually have very good players who can turn up and change games on their own and Madrid is a team that gets better at the later stages of the season. If they manage to remain in the Champions League till the quarter-final, the spirit might come and they might just pick form.