Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone are set to face off again in the highly anticipated Madrid derby, which will take place when Atletico Madrid host Real Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium. This will be the first time the two managers meet in a derby match in over a decade. Their last encounter was in 2014, when Mourinho was managing Chelsea and Atletico eliminated them from the Champions League at Stamford Bridge. The pair previously faced each other in a 2012 derby, when Simeone’s Atletico welcomed Mourinho to their old home, the Vicente Calderon Stadium, during Mourinho’s first tenure at Real Madrid. In their six previous meetings, Mourinho has three wins and a draw, while Atletico’s 2013 Copa del Rey victory marked the end of a 14-year wait for a derby win. In the current La Liga season, Real Madrid are currently second with 15 points from six matches, tied with Real Betis, while Atletico sit fourth with 13 points. Barcelona lead the table with 21 points, meaning a loss for Real Madrid in this derby could leave them six points behind after seven games. Atletico have bounced back from two consecutive defeats by beating Real Sociedad 3-0 and Osasuna 4-0, while Real Madrid also came into the derby on a winning streak, narrowly defeating Elche 3-2. Mourinho has largely avoided comparisons between Real Madrid and Atletico or Barcelona, despite the contrasting performances of the three clubs. Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, have started the season perfectly with eight wins, while Real Madrid have had to rely on late goals in several matches to secure results. Mourinho acknowledged that Real Madrid have not yet reached the level of control he desires, despite positive outcomes. He highlighted the team's resilience, pointing to their late winner against Elche, where substitute Carlos Espin scored in the 91st minute to secure a 3-2 victory. The derby holds extra weight for Real Madrid, given their struggles at the Metropolitano Stadium, where they have won only two of their last 11 away matches. Atletico also claimed a convincing 5-2 victory in last season’s derby, a result that marked an early challenge for Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso. Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has focused on organization and adaptability, but he emphasized that his tactics depend on the players available rather than a fixed strategy. Simeone, meanwhile, believes Real Madrid’s greatest strength lies in their transition play, which is better than Atletico’s. He has urged his players to stay calm and focused, acknowledging that Atletico is still “in construction” after a busy summer that saw seven players leave and five new signings arrive. While Julian Alvarez, a key forward, has missed the past two matches due to injury, Simeone confirmed he will feature soon, adding depth to the attack. New signing Jonathan David, a Canadian forward, has scored in his last two games, offering a fresh spark to the team. Both managers are preparing to outmaneuver each other, but there is a mutual respect between them, with Simeone expressing admiration for Mourinho and Mourinho praising Simeone’s work. Mourinho, in his first 100 days at Real Madrid, has refused to assess his performance as positive or negative, stating he has given his all and will continue to do so.