The Madrid derby will bring back memories of one of European football’s most intriguing managerial rivalries when Atletico Madrid welcome Real Madrid to the Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone first faced each other in the Spanish capital more than a decade ago. Now, their names are back together on the derby stage as the two clubs prepare for another battle.
Their first meeting came in 2012, when Mourinho was leading Real Madrid and Simeone had taken charge of Atletico. Real produced a commanding performance at the Vicente Calderon, winning 4-1.
The rivalry later extended beyond Spain. In 2014, Simeone’s Atletico eliminated Mourinho’s Chelsea from the Champions League after winning at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho, however, maintained the upper hand in their Madrid derby meetings. He won all three of the derbies contested against Simeone.
Atletico eventually claimed a major victory over Real in the 2013 Copa del Rey final. Simeone’s side prevailed 2-1 after extra time, ending a 14-year wait for a derby triumph.
This time, Real Madrid arrive in strong league form. They occupy second place and have opened a six-point gap over Barcelona after winning five of their six matches.
Their only league defeat came against Real Betis. However, Real responded in dramatic fashion in their latest outing, recovering from a 2-2 scoreline against Elche to win 3-2 through Carlos Espi’s late goal.
Real had taken a 2-0 advantage before Elche fought back. The eventual winner came in the 91st minute.
Mourinho acknowledged that there are areas his team still needs to improve. He also pointed to the side’s ability to produce results when matches become difficult.
Atletico are fourth on the table, just two points behind their city rivals. Simeone’s team have recorded four victories, one draw and one defeat.
After consecutive losses to Athletic Club and Liverpool, Atletico quickly restored confidence. They defeated Real Sociedad 3-0 away before following it up with a convincing 4-0 victory against Osasuna.
The hosts also have a recent advantage in the fixture. Atletico won last season’s corresponding league meeting 5-2, dealing an early blow to Real’s previous project under Xabi Alonso.
Simeone is fully aware of the danger Real can create when they win possession. The Atletico boss singled out Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr as major threats during quick attacking transitions.
He has therefore warned his players to remain disciplined and avoid unnecessary turnovers.
For Simeone, the key will be reading the game correctly and preventing Real from turning possession losses into rapid attacks.
With both Madrid giants near the top of the table, Sunday’s derby promises another intense encounter — and another reminder of the long-running rivalry between Mourinho and Simeone.
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