Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone will renew their managerial rivalry today, Sunday 20 September 2026, as Real Madrid visit Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium. This marks their first encounter in over a decade, with their last head-to-head dating back to 2014 when Mourinho managed Chelsea.
Real Madrid enter the derby second in La Liga with 15 points from six games, level with Real Betis. Atletico Madrid are currently fourth with 13 points. League leaders Barcelona are six points clear of Real Madrid with 21 points.
Mourinho has a historical advantage over Simeone, holding three wins and a draw in their six previous meetings. Atletico's Copa del Rey triumph in 2013 ended a 14-year wait for a derby victory against Mourinho's Real Madrid.
Both teams come into the match on the back of recent successes. Atletico have secured back-to-back victories against Real Sociedad and Osasuna after consecutive defeats. Real Madrid also won their last league outing, edging past Elche 3-2.
Mourinho acknowledged his team's character in finding late winners, stating, "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." Simeone, whose team is still "in construction" after a busy summer, confirmed that Julian Alvarez will feature despite a muscle problem, adding strength to their attack.