Mourinho Warns Real Madrid Not to Read Too Much Into Leipzig Rout Before Clásico
Real Madrid will approach Sunday’s Clásico against Barcelona after a 4-1 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig, but José Mourinho has cautioned against treating the Bernabéu result as a direct guide to what awaits at Camp Nou. Madrid scored 12 times across a week that also included wins over Roma and Sevilla, with Kylian Mbappé continuing his sharp return to form, yet selection questions remain in defence, midfield and the forward line.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring against Leipzig after Arda Güler’s effort dropped into his path, before Madrid took control after the interval. Güler, Mbappé and Yan Diomande all found the net as the home side pulled away, although Mourinho was frustrated that Leipzig scored after Thibaut Courtois had made two important saves while the game was still goalless.
“The one thing I did not enjoy was their goal,” Mourinho said. “After making two saves like that at 0-0, Courtois did not deserve his team-mates to let him down.”
Mbappé, who has scored four goals in the past week, insisted immediately after the final whistle that Madrid had not allowed thoughts of Barcelona to distract them. He described the Leipzig match and the Clásico as separate occasions, saying the squad’s attention had been solely on the European tie.
Valverde and Güler strengthen their cases
Federico Valverde’s second consecutive appearance at right-back was among the clearest selection messages of the night. Mourinho had maintained in August that the Uruguayan was primarily a central midfielder, despite being capable of filling in defensively. Against Leipzig, however, Valverde combined his usual running power with a complete performance on the right side.
He recovered from an early difficult moment against Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa to finish with 115 touches, more than any other player. Only Dean Huijsen completed more passes, while Valverde created three opportunities and supplied the cross that helped produce Silva’s opener. His 12 defensive interventions, covering tackles, interceptions and clearances, were also the highest total in the match.
That display leaves Mourinho with a significant decision before Barcelona. Madrid have specialist right-backs in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries, but Valverde’s balance at both ends makes him difficult to leave out.
Güler was similarly influential from the right wing. The Turkey international has registered two goals and two assists in Madrid’s past three matches, against Roma, Sevilla and Leipzig, and played 27 passes into the final third on Wednesday, one more than Valverde. Mourinho now has to decide whether to retain him wide or move him into central midfield in a more assertive setup.
Mourinho said Valverde and Güler had worked well together down the right, calling them “good options” for the side. The coach also reiterated that his early period at the club has required him to assess players in competitive conditions. “I have only been here 105 days,” he said. “The best way to understand them is to see them play in matches.”
Silva also gave Mourinho a timely reminder of his value after limited involvement this season. His goal was a deserved reward for a performance in which he regularly offered himself for possession, connected attacks and found room between Leipzig’s lines. Even so, he is likely to return to the bench for the Clásico.
The midfielder accepted that Madrid must strike the right balance between possession and intensity, and said he would be prepared to contribute regardless of whether he is given five minutes, 10 minutes or a full match.
Diomande presses his claim as Vinícius misses out
Diomande’s introduction provided another complication for Mourinho. The teenage winger has been eased into the side after arriving as Madrid’s record signing, but he now has three goals and three assists since the international break. His latest goal was his most striking yet, meeting Brahim Díaz’s cross with a volley into the top corner.
Mourinho has previously described Diomande as talented but still raw, comparing his early development to that of Vinícius Júnior. The teenager’s impact is becoming harder to ignore, particularly with Vinícius unavailable against Barcelona because his domestic suspension remains in force.
Vinícius was replaced by Diomande after 70 minutes against Leipzig following another subdued display, although Mourinho defended the Brazilian. He noted that Vinícius came close to scoring and was denied by an excellent save, adding that he was satisfied with the player’s contribution. Mourinho also denied that Diomande’s substitution had been made with the Clásico specifically in mind, saying fresh pace against tiring defenders was the priority in the Leipzig match.
Madrid’s attacking output offers obvious encouragement before the trip to Barcelona: they beat Roma 4-3, Sevilla 4-1 and Leipzig 4-1. Mbappé is scoring again, Diomande is making a growing impact and Courtois remains central to the side’s resilience. Mourinho’s greater concern is how to configure the midfield without sacrificing control.
“Confidence for a Clásico cannot be measured from one to 10,” Mourinho said. “To pretend it is just another match would not be true.”
