José Mourinho set for first El Clásico in 13½ years as Real Madrid coach

José Mourinho is set to coach Real Madrid against Barcelona on Oct. 25, 2026, in his first El Clásico in 13½ years, ESPN’s Alex Kirkland writes. ESPN lists the match for 4 p.m. ET. Kirkland uses the occasion to revisit Mourinho’s first spell in charge of Madrid, when the rivalry produced both trophies and confrontations.

From 2010 to 2013, Mourinho’s Madrid faced Barcelona 17 times across four competitions. ESPN puts his record at five wins, six draws and six defeats. His first Clásico ended in a 5-0 loss at Camp Nou in November 2010. Madrid went on to win the 2011 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona and the 2011-12 league title, though Barcelona knocked Madrid out of the 2011 Champions League semifinals.

The confrontations went beyond the scores. During a touchline brawl in the 2011 Spanish Supercopa, Mourinho poked Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye and later apologized, . Mourinho’s last Clásico of that tenure was a 2-1 Madrid win on March 2, 2013. For the scheduled October match, Barcelona’s coach is Hansi Flick.