La Liga: Mourinho, Simeone renew old rivalry in Madrid derby

Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone.

Sunday’s La Liga match between arch-rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will reignite a rivalry between two charismatic managers, Diego Simeone and Jose Mourinho, after more than a decade.

The game, which will be played at the Metropolitano Stadium, is part of the last five matches to be played in the Spanish top division before the international break.

Their first Madrid derby as rival managers came in 2012, when the Portuguese, during his reign as Real’s boss, led his charges to Atletico’s former home, the Vicente Calderon Stadium, BBC Sport reports Sunday.

Real left with a 4-1 win.

After that, both managers clashed in the Champions League. When Mourinho was Chelsea’s coach in 2014, Atletico knocked his side out at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese manager won all his three Madrid derbies against Simeone.

The only time the Argentine manager’s side triumphed over Real was in the 2013 Copa del Rey final when Atletico defeated Real by 2-1 after extra time — ending a 14-year wait for a derby victory.

Real sit in second position with six points clear of Barcelona. They have won five of their six matches, with one loss away at Real Betis.

Their last league match was a 3-2 win away at Elche. Real led the game 2-0 before the home side equalised both goals. Real eventually won with a 91st-minute winner from Carlos Espi.

• Lookman sets AFCON qualifiers target for Eagles
• Lookman eyes Los Blancos scalp in Madrid derby
• La Liga: Raphinha scores hat-trick as Barcelona beat Sevilla 3-1

“It’s not normal to be winning 2-0, then the other team is able to equalise.

“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.”

“I am aware of the fact that 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,” Mourinho said.

For Atletico’s league run, they have recorded four wins, one draw and a loss, so far.

Sitting behind Real by two points and in fourth position, they bounced back from their losses against Athletic Club and Liverpool, with two consecutive victories — a 3-0 win at Real Sociedad, and a 4-0 thrashing at home against Osasuna.

Meanwhile, 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, BBC Sport stated.

Speaking on Real’s team, Simeone, who has managed Atleti in over 800 games since taking charge in 2011. said, “They’re better in transition than us.

“When there’s a loss of possession, they look for [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius Jr; they play to that strength.

“We have to read the game well and not allow any turnovers, so we don’t allow them to use those transitions.”