Jose Mourinho will take charge of Real Madrid against Barcelona for the first time in 12 years. The fixture comes with his team six points behind a dominant Barcelona side in La Liga.
Mourinho first arrived at the Spanish giants three decades ago as an interpreter for Sir Bobby Robson. He later returned as manager in 2010 after winning the Champions League with Inter Milan, but his first season ended without silverware while Pep Guardiola's Barcelona collected multiple trophies. His latest stint, which began 105 days ago, sees him back at a club he once declared he would only join "to destroy them."
Barcelona's formidable form
Barcelona's current dominance presents a steep challenge. They are on an 11-match winning streak, averaging over four goals per game. In contrast, Madrid has suffered two defeats in the league and has struggled to build consistent momentum, leaving them with a significant points deficit. The Catalan club's form has been spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 18 goals in the league this season.
Mourinho acknowledged the scale of the task, stating he has needed time to understand his new squad. "I had to get to know the team, having only been there 105 days," he said. His preparations have been complicated by a recent four-match touchline ban, received after he ran onto the pitch to confront officials following a disallowed goal and a red card for Vinícius Júnior. The ban forced him to watch his team's last two matches from the stands, communicating with his assistants via a mobile phone link.
Off-field tensions and preparation
To avoid risking a suspension for the clásico, Mourinho skipped a subsequent press conference. He has also complained about Madrid having one day less to prepare than their rivals, citing fixture scheduling as a disadvantage. The backdrop of the Negreira case, where Barcelona paid over €7 million to a former refereeing official between 2001 and 2018, adds another layer of tension to the historic rivalry. Real Madrid has joined the legal proceedings as an injured party, a move that has further inflamed relations between the clubs ahead of the match.
Despite his deep history with Madrid, Mourinho has made his affection for Barcelona clear in the past. He once said, "today, tomorrow and always, Barcelona in my heart," referencing his time working at the club under Robson and later Louis van Gaal. His return to the Bernabéu helm, after last visiting as a spectator in 2013, sets the stage for a key chapter in El Clásico's long narrative. The next fixture between the two sides is scheduled for this weekend, with a victory for Madrid key to maintaining realistic title hopes.
Read the full report at theguardian.com
