Barcelona hosts Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium on Sunday at 9:00 PM for the tenth round of the Spanish League. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho dismissed the surrounding media intensity, stating, "الأمر أشبه بالذهاب إلى أي ملعب آخر، نحن نتحدث عن فريق يتمتع بمستوى عالٍ جداً، لكن لا يوجد ما يستدعي كل هذا التهويل." Mourinho characterized the El Clasico as a distinct challenge, noting, "نحن نمر بفترة جيدة، ونقدم أداءً مميزاً، ونسجل الأهداف، لكن في الكلاسيكو، لا قيمة لما حققته سابقاً، فذلك لا يؤثر على شيء، إنها مواجهة من نوع آخر تماماً.. آمل أن تكون مباراة كبيرة، وأن نفوز بها نحن." He added that a single result would not impact the morale of either team, referencing a 1-4 loss to Leipzig.
Current La Liga Standings
Barcelona holds the top position in the La Liga standings with 27 points. Real Madrid currently occupies third place in the table with 21 points. The club sits one point behind Atletico Madrid, who maintain the second position heading into the weekend fixtures.
Mourinho Dismisses Match Hype
Jose Mourinho argued that previous results and achievements hold no value when preparing for an El Clasico fixture. The Real Madrid coach emphasized that past performance carries little weight during such high-profile encounters, as the upcoming match presents an entirely unique set of circumstances. He maintained that the media attention surrounding the visit to the Camp Nou remains disproportionate to the actual nature of the competition. According to the manager, the focus should remain on the tactical requirements of the 90 minutes rather than the external narrative. He suggested that the atmosphere surrounding the trip to Barcelona does not necessitate the level of intensity currently reflected in public discourse ahead of the Sunday match.
Team Morale and Comparisons
Jose Mourinho argued that comparing the current Barcelona squad to the Real Madrid roster remains unfair, as his own team is still under construction. He noted that evaluating the two sides based on current trajectories ignores the different stages of development each organization faces during the season.
Regarding the psychological impact of match results, the Real Madrid coach stated that a single defeat does not alter a team’s internal morale. He specifically cited a 4-1 loss to Leipzig as an example, asserting that such a result would not have affected his players' collective confidence or their professional outlook.
Finally, Jose Mourinho addressed the officiating preparations for the upcoming fixture. He expressed surprise at the leak concerning the appointment of referee Munuera, which emerged before the official announcement was made by the league authorities.
