Mourinho’s 16-game reshuffle gives Real Madrid a new tactical blueprint

Jose Mourinho has finally identified a reliable Real Madrid starting line-up after 16 matches and about 100 days of experimentation, with the side now taking shape around his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

The emerging XI consists of Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella, Aurelien Tchouameni, Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Yan Diomande and Kylian Mbappe.

The structure has become clearer during a run of eight wins from eight matches between the two international breaks. Spanish newspaper Sport reported that the formation began to take shape during the Clasico, before Courtois replaced Andriy Lunin in goal.

A relatively short injury list has also helped Mourinho establish his preferred side. The Portuguese manager has repeatedly stressed that no player is bigger than the Real Madrid badge, a message reinforced when he was asked about Vinicius Junior’s absence for four La Liga matches after being sent off against Villarreal.

Vinicius’ suspension coincided with Diomande securing a regular place in the starting line-up. Mourinho is still expected to rotate as the fixture schedule intensifies, but in November the XI above appears to be his preferred choice for major matches.

Midfield remains the main problem

Mourinho made more changes in the holding-midfield positions than anywhere else, using seven different pairings and making nine alterations between games.

Tchouameni and Valverde have nevertheless started together most often this season. They played alongside one another against Elche, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Roma. After Real Madrid’s dramatic comeback in Italy, Mourinho changed direction, with Bernardo Silva’s return providing greater balance.

Silva partnered Valverde against Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano, and played alongside Eduardo Camavinga in Champions League matches against RB Leipzig and AEK Athens. The combination of Silva and Tchouameni then started against Barcelona, Racing and Valencia and has become the most recent midfield solution.

Other pairings included Camavinga and Valverde against Malaga and Real Betis, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Valverde against Inter Milan, and Guler and Tchouameni against Sevilla. The match against Sevilla also marked the beginning of the move to the current structure, with Valverde returning to right-back after featuring in midfield throughout the first 10 games.

Changes across defence and attack

The full-back positions produced six different partnerships and 13 changes across the opening 16 matches, the highest turnover of any area. Denzel Dumfries and Cucurella played together five times, against Real Betis, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Roma and AEK Athens, although they started both of the team’s only defeats so far, against Inter and Atletico.

Three partnerships started three games each: Dumfries and Alvaro Carreras against Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano; Alexander-Arnold and Cucurella against Malaga, Elche and Racing; and Valverde with Cucurella against Sevilla, Barcelona and Valencia. The last of those is currently the most settled. Alexander-Arnold and Carreras started together only against Villarreal, while Valverde and Carreras played against Leipzig.

At centre-back, Mourinho used four pairings and made 10 changes. Huijsen and Konate were his first choice, starting together in 10 of the 16 matches against Espanyol, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, Inter Milan, Elche, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing and Valencia.

Antonio Rudiger partnered Konate against Rayo Vallecano, Villarreal and Roma, and Huijsen against Malaga and Leipzig. He also played once with the returning Eder Militao, against AEK Athens.

Mbappe is the only player to start all 16 matches, while Bellingham started 15, missing only the game against Elche, when Guler played as the advanced playmaker. Mourinho used five attacking trios and made 12 changes.

Guler, Mbappe and Vinicius started together five times, while Diomande, Guler and Mbappe played four times against Villarreal, Barcelona, Racing and Valencia. Diomande, Mbappe and Vinicius also formed a starting trio in four matches, against Rayo Vallecano, Elche, Roma and AEK Athens.

Ibrahim Diaz, Mbappe and Vinicius featured together against Malaga and Inter Milan, while Diomande, Endrick and Mbappe started against Sevilla. Guler has been the common factor in most attacking combinations, starting nine times in a front three, once as the advanced playmaker and once in a midfield pairing.

His versatility, combined with Valverde’s ability to play several roles, has allowed Mourinho to alter Real Madrid’s approach without overhauling the entire team.