Mourinho faces Barcelona in first Clasico since return

Jose Mourinho will lead Real Madrid in his first El Clasico since returning to the club, facing La Liga leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou. His previous tenure at Madrid from 2010 to 2013 was marked by intense rivalry with Barcelona, particularly under Pep Guardiola.

Mourinho's notable achievement during that period was winning the Spanish title in 2012, breaking Barcelona's dominance. The rivalry escalated with notable incidents, including Mourinho poking then Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye in 2011.

In his current role, Mourinho has faced challenges, including a recent derby loss and controversies regarding officiating. He has been criticized for using media tactics to distract from his team's performance.

Barcelona, coached by Hansi Flick, has won six of the last seven Clasicos against Real Madrid, scoring 22 goals while conceding only 11. Mourinho acknowledges that his team is not yet at the desired level due to the short time he has been in charge.