Mourinho and Simeone renew rivalry in Madrid derby after more than a decade
Mourinho and Simeone renew rivalry in Madrid derby after more than a decade
Elizabeth Conway - Spanish football reporterSun, September 20, 2026 at 6:58 AM UTC
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The last Madrid derby between Mourinho and Simeone came in the 2013 Copa del Rey final, when Atletico beat Real 2-1 after extra time
When Atletico Madrid welcome Real Madrid to Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday, Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone will renew a rivalry not seen for more than a decade.
The two managers have not faced each other since 2014, when Mourinho was manager of Chelsea and Atleti knocked the English side out of the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
But this will not be their first Madrid derby as rival managers.
That came two years before the Champions League encounter, when Simeone's Atletico welcomed Mourinho to their former home, the Vicente Calderon Stadium, during the Portuguese's first reign as Real boss - he left with a 4-1 win that day.
"This is a derby," Mourinho said. "Derbies are always something more special because of the history, the culture of the games and the passion of the fans."
But, ever the pragmatist, he added: "But obviously three points is most important thing."
Mourinho has three wins and a draw in their six previous meetings, while Atleti's 2013 Copa del Rey triumph ended a 14-year wait for a derby victory.
Real Madrid go into the match second in La Liga with 15 points from six games, with Real Betis on the same number of points and Atletico fourth on 13.
Leading the table are Barcelona on 21 points, meaning defeat for Mourinho's men would leave them six points behind after the first seven matches.
Atleti have themselves responded to consecutive defeats by Athletic Club and Liverpool with back-to-back victories, beating Real Sociedad 3-0 and then Osasuna 4-0.
Real Madrid also come into the derby on the back of a success, edging past Elche 3-2.
'There will be obstacles'
Mourinho has spent much of the build-up resisting comparisons with Atleti and Barcelona, despite the contrasting narratives surrounding the clubs.
Hansi Flick's Barca side have made a perfect start with eight wins in all competitions - seven in the league - while Real have had to produce defining moments in several matches.
Their last league outing against Elche reflected this. Real led 2-0 before being brought back to 2-2, only for substitute Carlos Espi to score a 91st-minute winner.
"It's not normal to be winning 2-0 then the other team is able to equalise," Mourinho said, while pointing to the character shown by his players in finding late winners.
"The league is a marathon and it's not always a straight line. There will be obstacles, but we will be there to overcome them."
That ability to manage matches is one of the main questions surrounding Real as Mourinho acknowledged they have not yet reached the level of control he wants, despite positive results.
"I am aware of the fact we can improve, we have to improve, but I also see a lot of very positive collective and individual things and in the three games where we needed last-minute winners, we found them," he added.
Home advantage a key
The derby carries particular significance because of Real's recent difficulties at the Metropolitano, where they have won only two of their past 11 away matches, with the last in La Liga four years ago.
Atleti also won the corresponding derby last season 5-2 - a result that represented an early setback for Real's previous project under Xabi Alonso.
This time, though, there is a different manager on the touchline.
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Mourinho's return this summer has brought a familiar emphasis on organisation and adaptability, but he insisted his tactical approach is dictated by the players available to him rather than a fixed philosophy.
"I've evolved alongside my players," he said. "You have what you like and don't like as a manager but then you have to work with the group of players you have."
Simeone's assessment of Real's biggest weapon was clear.
"They're better in transition than us," said the Argentine, who has managed Atleti in over 800 games since taking charge in 2011.
He believes Real's ability to turn winning the ball into instant attacking opportunities will be one of the key tactical elements in the game.
"When there's a loss of possession, they look for [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, they play to that strength," added Simeone.
"We have to read the game well and not allow any turnovers, so we don't allow them to use those transitions."
It is a warning that carries weight given the attacking options and speed available to Mourinho.
France striker Mbappe remains the focal point, while Vinicius Jr provides another route into space.
Real also have the quality to change the game from the bench, something the 21-year-old Espi has already demonstrated since his summer arrival from Levante.
'Football is about composure'
Aware of the feisty and hostile encounters of old, Simeone has urged his players not to become overwhelmed by the occasion.
"I'm not one for giving advice," he said when asked how his players should approach the fixture.
"It's normal for new players to feel pressure, with the excitement a game like this generates, but they need to be calm. Football is about composure."
Simeone, though, described Atleti as a team still "in construction" after a busy summer in which seven players left and five arrived.
One of the biggest selection issues concerning him involves compatriot Julian Alvarez, who has missed the past two games with a muscle problem.
Forward Alexander Sorloth is also injured, while new signing, Canadian Jonathan David, has scored in each of his last two appearances.
However, Simeone confirmed Alvarez will feature at some point, giving his side more strength in attack and threat in transition.
While both he and Mourinho will plot the downfall of the other's team, there is respect between the pair after their past.
"I have huge respect for Mourinho, I've been an admirer of his for a long time," said Simeone. "He knows the regard I have for him. Hopefully we can compete as we have done when we've faced him."
Mourinho revealed he had been asked to discuss Simeone for a documentary and had no hesitation in speaking positively about him.
Having been in charge for 100 days, he refused to give himself a positive or negative assessment.
"All I can say is that I've given it my all," he said. "I gave 100%. We have to keep on doing that every day."
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