Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has expressed his desire for both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to lose points in their upcoming La Liga match. The match, set to take place at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday, pits Diego Simeone's solid Atletico side against Hansi Flick's free-scoring Barcelona. Both teams are currently in strong form, making Mourinho's wish for mutual disappointment a difficult one to fulfil.
Barcelona currently sits top of the table with 30 points from 11 games, two points clear of Atletico Madrid and three ahead of Real Madrid. A victory for either side would strengthen their title credentials, while a draw would ensure both drop points, an outcome that would benefit Madrid's challenge. Mourinho made these comments as reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday.
The match is one of the biggest of the season so far, with both teams heading into the fixture in strong form. Kick-off is set for 21:00 local time on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Mourinho also responded to Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to retire from the Portugal national team. The Real Madrid manager said Ronaldo's decision must be respected.
Mourinho, who coached Ronaldo during their successful spell together at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, stressed that Ronaldo's exit from international football does not mark the end of his playing days. He added that he hopes Ronaldo's eventual full retirement as a player will come on a different kind of day from the one on which he announced his departure from the national team.
Ronaldo confirmed his retirement from Portugal duty on Thursday after 23 years, following a period of tension with national team coach Jorge Jesus. Mourinho declined to assess the circumstances of the decision in detail, focusing instead on respect for Ronaldo's choice and the forward's remaining ambitions at club level with Al-Nassr.
Mourinho's comments come as a surprise, given the significance of the match and the current standings in La Liga. A win for either team would put them in a strong position to challenge for the title, while a draw would keep the competition open. Real Madrid currently trails Barcelona by three points.
The La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona is expected to be a closely contested fixture, with both teams having a strong chance of winning. Mourinho's wish for a double defeat may not be realised, but the outcome of the match will likely have significant implications for the rest of the season.
Key points
- Real Madrid coach José Mourinho hopes both Atletico and Barcelona drop points in their La Liga clash.
- Barcelona currently leads the table with 30 points from 11 games.
- Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to retire from Portugal duty has been respected by Mourinho.
