Mourinho and Simeone renew rivalry in Madrid derby after more than a decade

Atletico Madrid will host Real Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday, setting the stage for Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone to renew a rivalry that has lain dormant for more than a decade. The two managers have not met on the touchline since 2014, when Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea and Atletico eliminated the English side from the Champions League at Stamford Bridge. This encounter will not be their first Madrid derby as opposing head coaches. Their previous duel occurred two years before that Champions League clash, when Simeone’s Atletico welcomed Mourinho to the Vicente Calderon Stadium during the Portuguese’s inaugural spell at Real Madrid. Mourinho departed that match with a 4‑1 victory. Speaking ahead of the fixture, Mourinho described the occasion in familiar terms. “This is simply a derby,” he said. “Derbies are ever thing much peculiar due to the fact that of the history, the civilization of the games and the passionateness of the fans.” He added, pragmatically, “But evidently 3 points is astir important thing.” Mourinho’s record against Simeone in their six prior meetings stands at three wins and a draw, while Atletico’s 2013 Copa del Rey triumph ended a 14‑year wait for a derby win over Real. Real Madrid arrive at the match second in La Liga with 15 points from six games, level with Real Betis, while Atletico sit fourth on 13 points. Barcelona lead the table with 21 points, meaning a loss for Mourinho’s side would leave them six points adrift after the opening seven rounds. Atletico have bounced back from consecutive defeats to Athletic Club and Liverpool with successive victories, overcoming Real Sociedad 3‑0 and Osasuna 4‑0. Real Madrid, meanwhile, come into the derby on the back of a 3‑2 win over Elche. A subheading in the build‑up reads: “There will be obstacles.” Mourinho has spent much of the pre‑match period deflecting comparisons between his side, Atletico and Barcelona, despite the contrasting narratives that surround the clubs. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona have opened the season with eight wins across all competitions—seven in the league—while Real have had to craft defining moments in several matches. Their most recent league outing against Elche illustrated that point. Real led 2‑0 before being pegged back to 2‑2, only for substitute Carlos Espi to net a 91st‑minute winner. Mourinho commented on the resilience shown by his players. “It's not mean to be winning 2-0 past the other squad is capable to equalise,” he said, pointing to the quality displayed in securing late goals. He continued, “The league is simply a marathon and it's not ever a consecutive line. There will be obstacles, but we will be determination to flooded them.” He acknowledged that Real have yet to reach the level of dominance he desires, even though results have been positive. “I am alert of the information we tin improve, we person to improve, but I besides spot a batch of precise affirmative corporate and idiosyncratic things and successful the 3 games wherever we needed last-minute winners, we recovered them,” he added. The derby carries added significance given Real’s recent struggles at the Metropolitano, where they have won only two of their last 11 away matches, the last La Liga success there coming four years ago. Atletico likewise claimed the corresponding fixture last season with a 5‑2 scoreline, an outcome that represented an early setback for Real’s former project under Xabi Alonso. This time, however, a different manager occupies the Real bench. Mourinho’s return this summer has emphasised organisation and adaptability, though he insists his tactical approach is shaped by the players at his disposal rather than a fixed doctrine. “I've evolved alongside my players,” he said. “You person what you similar and don't similar as a manager but past you person to enactment with the radical of players you have.” Simeone offered a clear assessment of Real’s primary threat. “They're amended successful modulation than us,” the Argentine stated, noting he has overseen in excess of 800 matches for Atletico since taking charge in 2011. He believes Real’s ability to turn possession into immediate attacking chances will be a central tactical factor in the game. “When there's a nonaccomplishment of possession, they look for [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, they play to that strength,” Simeone added. “We person to work the crippled good and not let immoderate turnovers, truthful we don't let them to usage those transitions.” He stressed the value of the attacking options and pace available to Mourinho, with France’s Kylian Mbappe remaining the focal point and Vinicius Jr providing an alternative route into space. Real also possess the ability to influence the contest from the bench, a trait already demonstrated by 21‑year‑old Carlos Espi since his summer arrival from Levante. Mindful of the historically feisty and hostile nature of the fixture, Simeone urged his players not to be overwhelmed by the occasion. “I'm not 1 for giving advice,” he said when asked how his squad should approach the match. “It's mean for caller players to consciousness pressure, with the excitement a crippled similar this generates, but they request to b