The last time José Mourinho faced a former club, the soccer universe erupted in controversy with the Prestianni-Vini Jr. incident. That was when Mourinho’s Benfica faced his former club Real Madrid. Now Mourinho is on the white side of the dugout. He is facing the club with whom he won his last major trophy four years ago, the UEFA Conference League. As he chases the elusive Champions League that he never won with his beloved Madrid, he must first take on a familiar face, one that he still remembers fondly.
Has José Mourinho Improved Real Madrid?
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?
Mourinho’s return wasn’t the most hyped return in terms of optimism from the fans. Madrid had gone two seasons without a trophy, Xabi Alonso had walked out in the middle of the season, and Alvaro Arbeloa wasn’t improving them by any means. Real Madrid, who have only recently started their trend of reappointing managers (Zidane in 2019 and Ancelotti in 2021), decided to give the Portuguese manager another chance, buying out his contract from Benfica.
Since his arrival, José hasn’t really set the league alight. Before his arrival, the talk was that José was only being brought in to fix the egos in the dressing room, which had become hyper-inflated. The players are good enough that once the egos are settled, they will play better automatically.
So far in his tenure, José Mourinho has lost twice in nine games: a last-minute dagger against Real Betis and being outplayed by Atlético Madrid in El Derbi Madrileno. However, those numbers don’t paint the full picture.
The Truth
Most of those victories have come in scrappy fashion, requiring last-minute winners or mistakes from the opposition. Madrid have scored four goals on three occasions under Mourinho, and those were the only bright spots in his tenure. Every other game they have won has been decided by a one-goal margin. Games against Espanyol (2-1) and Elche (3-2) required late-game heroics from substitute Carlos Espí for Madrid to get all three points. The win against Inter was overshadowed by Josep Martinez’s blunders in goal for the Italians, and the win against Villarreal was nearly given away due to Vinícius’ red card.
The problems with the attack still persist, with Vinícius Jr.’s form falling off a cliff. Whenever the Brazilian plays, he and Kylian Mbappé occupy the same positions on the left, an area where new signing Yan Diomande also excels. The new era under Mourinho still has a lot of work to do, and a statement against his former team might push Los Blancos in the right direction before a busy schedule ahead, with Barcelona waiting in two weeks.
Roma Have Set Serie A on Fire
AS Roma have made an impressive, undefeated start to the 2026–27 Serie A season. Under the guidance of manager Gian Piero Gasperini, the Giallorossi have won four matches and drawn two, putting them firmly in the early title race. They currently sit in third place with 14 points, trailing joint league leaders Inter Milan and Lazio by just two points. Forward Donyell Malen is flying, with six goals to his name already.
In their Champions League opener, they earned a hard-fought draw against Fenerbahçe (coincidentally, also one of Mourinho’s former sides). They started the season with two 4-0 victories against Fiorentina and Lecce. Without a Serie A title since 2001 and having finished recent seasons just outside the top five, Roma are the closest they have been to their fourth Scudetto if they can maintain this level of form.
How Will Roma Welcome José Mourinho Back?
“Roma will always be my home,” said the Real Madrid manager ahead of this clash.
Such is the atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico that it will feel like home for him. After all, Mourinho dragged Roma to a Conference League title and a Europa League final in consecutive years, achievements that they had no business being in contention for. While the soccer might have been lackluster and league performances underwhelming, Mourinho is credited with reviving the club’s culture, filling stadiums, and making signings for the future. This was especially true of the signing of ‘La Joya’ Paulo Dybala, who switched from Juventus to Roma and became the team’s talisman. Signings like Tammy Abraham and Mile Svilar were also done by José Mourinho, with both helping stabilise the club in recent years.
While the mood around his departure was divisive, Mourinho still brought joy back to the Italian capital. The ultimate objective of dragging the club back to Champions League soccer couldn’t be achieved under him, but the emotional connection with the club that he managed for such a brief time was rare.
Real Madrid vs Roma: Head-to-Head and Facts
- This fixture between two iconic European sides has taken place 12 times in history, with Real Madrid having the upper hand (eight wins compared to Roma’s three)
- The last time Roma beat Real Madrid was all the way back in 2016, in a preseason friendly.
- Real Madrid haven’t conceded a single goal to Roma in their last four Champions League games against each other.
- Out of the five games these two have played at Roma’s home ground, Real Madrid have managed to win three of those and will be favorites to make it four.
- Francesco Totti’s first-ever Champions League goal came against Real Madrid, on the day 9/11 happened. That match was also AS Roma’s debut in the competition since its rebranding as the UEFA Champions League in 1992.
- José Mourinho is currently on a run of 10 consecutive Champions League knockout-stage matches without a win.
How Will José Mourinho Line Up Real Madrid?
Apart from Eder Militão, Rodrygo, Mendy, and Raúl Asencio, Mourinho has his full squad available. Vinícius Jr., who is serving a long suspension in La Liga, is expected to start, with Yan Diomande moving back to the right.
Roma have changed a lot since José Mourinho managed them. Mile Svilar won’t play as he’s out due to an injury, and Malen, who is also serving a league suspension, should start up front in the fixture.
Prediction: Roma to win 2-1.
Abhik Deb is an accomplished sports journalist and content creator, renowned for his innovative approach to digital storytelling within the football world. With a Master’s degree in Sports Journalism and Communications from Universidad Europea de Madrid, Abhik brings a sophisticated understanding of both traditional journalistic tenets and contemporary digital media strategies to his work. His professional journey includes a significant tenure as a multimedia journalist at Real Madrid C.F., where his contributions spanned video editing, scriptwriting, and on-camera presenting. Notably, Abhik made history as the first Indian to record a live stand-up from the hallowed Santiago Bernabéu pitch for Real Madrid TV, underscoring his pioneering spirit and influential presence. A specialist in La Liga and Spanish football, Abhik excels at captivating audiences through viral football content and insightful documentary-style videos. His natural ability to blend rigorous journalism with creative digital storytelling is evident in his independent fan channel, ‘LaLigaVic,’ where he cultivates a growing audience through engaging, original coverage of Spanish football culture. Abhik’s proficiency extends to social media strategy and audience engagement, crucial skills in today’s digital landscape. You can explore more of Abhik’s work on Hooligan Soccer and Muckrack. Connect with Abhik on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to follow his continuous dedication to delivering high-quality, authoritative sports content.
