Mourinho’s Return to the Bernabéu
Real Madrid is set to face Real Sociedad this Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu, a match that also marks the return of manager José Mourinho to his former home. The team aims to build on its recent win against Espanyol. Mourinho’s return has sparked discussions about his managerial style, with some media outlets questioning if he has changed since his previous tenure.
Journalists Tomás Roncero and Antonio Romero discussed the idea of a “calm Mourinho” on the “SER Deportivos” programme. Roncero suggested that while Mourinho’s core personality remains, his approach has evolved over 13 years of experience. He believes Mourinho is aware of past mistakes and is determined not to repeat them, seeing this as his opportunity to return to football’s elite.
However, Roncero also noted that the familiar fiery side of Mourinho could resurface if he perceives unfair refereeing decisions or issues involving Barcelona. Despite initial skepticism, Roncero now views Mourinho as a suitable leader for Real Madrid, particularly after a challenging previous season. He highlighted Mourinho’s prestige and the respect he commands in the dressing room.
Romero, on the other hand, cautioned against fully trusting this perceived calm, pointing to Mourinho’s history of controversial moments, such as a clash between Real Madrid and Benfica in the Champions League, his celebrations, and criticisms of Vinícius.
Team Performance and Match Statistics
Real Madrid has started the season without a loss, including four friendly victories and a La Liga opening win against Espanyol. The team secured all three points in the 90th minute of the Espanyol match. Ahead of the Real Sociedad fixture, Mourinho appeared relaxed during a press conference, joking with reporters about observations regarding his demeanor compared to his first stint at the club.
The upcoming match against Real Sociedad will see Real Madrid managed by José Mourinho, with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Real Sociedad will be managed by Pellegrino Matarazzo, also employing a 4-2-3-1 formation. The officiating team for the match includes Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer, Video Assistant Referee Raúl Martín González Francés, Assistant Referee 1 Gonzalo García González, Assistant Referee 2 Adrián Díaz González, Fourth Official Manuel Camacho, and Assistant VAR Official Jorge Figueroa Vázquez.
In terms of basic match statistics, Real Madrid had 49.8% overall possession compared to Real Sociedad’s 50.2%. Real Madrid registered 14 shots with 7 on target, while Real Sociedad had 5 shots with 2 on target. Real Madrid had 25 total touches inside the opposition box, compared to Real Sociedad’s 10. Goalkeeper saves were 1 for Real Madrid and 6 for Real Sociedad. Both teams won 2 aerial duels. Real Madrid committed 7 fouls and received 1 yellow card, while Real Sociedad committed 4 fouls and received 2 yellow cards.
Looking at previous encounters in Primera División, Real Madrid won against Espanyol. In friendly matches, Real Madrid won against Schalke 04, Deportivo de A Coruña, and Ferencváros, and drew with Fiorentina. Real Sociedad lost friendly matches against Chelsea, Köln, and Toulouse, but won against Aston Villa.
In the Spanish La Liga table, Real Madrid is in 5th position, while Real Sociedad is in 15th position. The top four positions qualify for the UEFA Champions League, 5th position for the UEFA Europa League, and 6th for UEFA Conference League Qualifiers. Positions 18, 19, and 20 are relegation spots.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sevilla | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 2 Real Betis | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 3 Alavés | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 4 Atletico Madrid | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 5 Real Madrid | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 6 Barcelona | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 7 Espanyol | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 8 Getafe | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 3 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 9 Villarreal | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 10 Deportivo de A Coruña | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 11 Osasuna | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 12 Celta Vigo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 13 Racing de Santander | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 14 Rayo Vallecano | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
| 15 Real Sociedad | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 | No Result No Result No Result No Result… |
Mourinho’s first tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu from 2010 to 2013 saw him manage 178 matches, securing 128 victories and three domestic titles. During that period, his team achieved 100 points in La Liga and scored 121 goals. His current squad includes players like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham.
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Source: bbc.com
Rahul Sharma is a news editor at Latest News, covering national headlines, politics and the stories shaping India and the world.
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