Mourinho returns to Camp Nou as Real Madrid boss for El Clásico
José Mourinho goes back to Camp Nou on Sunday night, this time as Real Madrid's manager, for one of football's most famous rivalries. Barcelona against Real Madrid, known as El Clásico (Spanish for "the classic"), kicks off at 9pm Spanish time on October 25, 2026.
Mourinho has a long history with the stadium. He first arrived there 30 years ago, working as a translator for the English coach Bobby Robson. He last visited in 2013, as a coach, before this return. The Guardian has framed its preview around that return.
This is only his third month in charge of Real Madrid. The match is round 10 of LaLiga, the Spanish league, so it arrives early in the season and carries plenty of weight for both clubs.
Barcelona have the better recent record. Under coach Hansi Flick, they have won six of the last seven Clásicos against Real Madrid, scoring 22 goals and conceding 11, according to Asharq Al-Awsat. Mourinho's task, in the words of that report, is to stop what has been called Barcelona's machine.
Mourinho has also raised a complaint before the match. He says Real Madrid will have 24 hours less rest than Barcelona. Rest matters in a packed calendar, because players who have had less time to recover between games can tire sooner. The Guardian and ESPN both reported the remarks.
Reuters previewed the game as a possible turning point for Mourinho, with a squad that has plenty of new faces. Its reporter, Fernando Kallas, wrote that the match gives Real Madrid a chance to show where they stand this season.
The Clásico is also a rare sight in European football. There has been no meeting between the two clubs in a European competition since the 2011 Champions League semi-final. That makes Sunday's game a meeting in the league, not on the continental stage.
Real Madrid arrive with a strong history in Europe. After ending a 12-year wait for their 10th Champions League title, they went on to win their 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th European titles within 10 years. Barcelona, for their part, have built their recent success around Flick's team.
For neutral fans, the appeal is simple. A returning manager, a rivalry with a long memory, and a stadium that once welcomed a young translator. Whatever the result, Sunday's game will be watched closely, and in Spain it will be shown live on LALIGA's Movistar TV channel from 9pm.
