Mourinho returns to Madrid for fresh Simeone meeting in Atletico derby

Jose Mourinho will renew his rivalry with Diego Simeone when Atletico Madrid face Real Madrid in another derby at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The meeting will be the first competitive encounter between the two managers since 30 April 2014, when Mourinho’s Chelsea hosted Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

The first leg had ended goalless at the Vicente Calderon, making the return match at Stamford Bridge effectively a “final” for a place in the competition’s actual final.

Fernando Torres put Chelsea ahead, but Atletico responded through Adrian Lopez, Diego Costa and Arda Turan to win 3-1 and reach the final. It was the sixth meeting between Mourinho and Simeone, and Simeone was preparing to contest his first Champions League final.

Their previous meeting had come on 17 May 2013, in the Copa del Rey final at the end of Mourinho’s first spell in charge of Real Madrid. It also marked a decisive moment in Atletico’s rise under Simeone.

Real Madrid took the lead through Cristiano Ronaldo, but Atletico levelled when Diego Costa converted a pass from Radamel Falcao. Joao Miranda then headed in Koke’s delivery during extra time to secure the trophy, despite Atletico having to withstand several chances from Real Madrid and seeing the ball strike both posts.

Thibaut Courtois was in goal for Atletico Madrid that night. He now guards the Real Madrid goal.

Mourinho won his first three meetings with Simeone but has not beaten him in their past three encounters. His victories came in matches between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid: a 4-1 success at the Calderon on 11 April 2012, a 2-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on 1 December 2012 and a 2-1 victory at the Manzanares on 27 April 2013.

Simeone has remained Atletico Madrid’s manager throughout that period. Mourinho, meanwhile, went on to coach Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica before returning to Real Madrid last summer.

During that time, Mourinho did not face Atletico Madrid, Simeone or the Wanda Metropolitano.

Across nine matches against Simeone while managing Real Madrid, Mourinho recorded only one victory. That came in the Copa del Rey final, while the remaining meetings ended in Simeone’s favour.