Sports
Kaçkar by UTMB puts Türkiye’s Rize on fast track to sports tourism
More than 2,000 trail runners from more than 60 countries are expected to descend on Türkiye’s northeastern Black Sea province of Rize on Friday for the second edition of Kaçkar by UTMB, putting the region’s mountains, culture and sports tourism ambitions on an international stage.
The Sept. 11-13 event is Türkiye’s first and only UTMB World Series race and will bring competitors from six continents to the rugged Kaçkar Mountains.
Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak said the event represents far more than a major endurance race, describing it as an opportunity to introduce Rize’s natural and cultural attractions to a global audience.
“Kaçkar by UTMB is not just a sporting event,” Bak said. “It is also an important opportunity to introduce Rize’s unique natural and cultural riches to the world.”
Bak, whose family roots are in Rize’s Pazar district, said athletes, teams and visitors will have an opportunity to experience some of the region’s best-known destinations, including Ayder Plateau, Zil Kale, Fırtına Valley and the highlands of Pokut, Sal and Huser.
The minister also pointed to the event’s expected economic impact, saying increased reservations for accommodation and other tourism services are already being recorded ahead of the races.
“We expect significant economic activity across many sectors, especially accommodation, transportation, food and tourism,” Bak said. “We are very pleased to show Rize’s sports tourism potential to the world.”
A global trail-running stage
Kaçkar by UTMB is part of the UTMB World Series, an international circuit of trail-running events held in major mountain and outdoor destinations around the world. The series provides a pathway for runners seeking places in the prestigious UTMB Mont-Blanc finals in Chamonix, France.
Depending on the race category, competitors can earn Running Stones, which provide entries into the lottery for the finals, while their performances also contribute to their UTMB Index. Top performers in selected categories can secure direct qualification.
For Rize, hosting a UTMB World Series event provides an opportunity to connect the province with a global community of endurance athletes while promoting its mountain environment as a destination for adventure tourism.
The inaugural Kaçkar by UTMB was held in September 2025 in the Çamlıhemşin district, with Ayder Plateau serving as the main hub. The first edition attracted roughly 1,600 to 1,900 participants from dozens of countries, although severe weather and safety concerns at higher elevations forced the cancellation of the longest race.
The 2026 edition is expected to be larger, with organizers projecting more than 2,000 runners representing over 60 countries.
The event is being held under the auspices of the Youth and Sports Ministry and coordinated by the Rize Governorship, with support from sponsors including Turkcell, Turkish Airlines and TOGG.
Racing through the Kaçkars
The races take competitors through one of Türkiye’s most dramatic mountain environments, combining steep climbs, forests, valleys, alpine meadows and high-altitude terrain.
The flagship Kaçkar 100K features roughly 76 to 82 kilometers of running and about 5,600 meters of elevation gain, taking competitors across high passes, technical trails and remote sections of the Kaçkar range.
The Kaçkar 50K covers roughly 43 to 44 kilometers with about 3,000 meters of climbing, while the Kaçkar 20K provides a shorter but still demanding route through the region’s forests, valleys and highlands. A shorter Ayder 4K community or discovery race has also been included in event programming.
Ayder Plateau, located at about 1,350 meters, serves as the heart of the event. The highland is known for its traditional wooden architecture, thermal springs and waterfalls and provides access to some of the region’s higher mountain settlements.
Beyond the race routes, visitors can explore the Fırtına Valley, where the Fırtına River cuts through steep gorges beneath historic stone bridges. The valley is also known for rafting and other outdoor activities.
Zil Kale, a medieval fortress dramatically positioned above the valley, offers one of the region’s most recognizable historical landmarks. Higher up, Pokut and Sal plateaus are known for traditional wooden houses and sweeping views, while Huser is particularly popular for its panoramic sunsets and views above the clouds.
Together, the Kaçkar Mountains and surrounding highlands offer a combination of alpine landscapes, glacial features, endemic plant life and traditional Hemşin highland culture that organizers hope will appeal to visitors beyond the racing community.
Tourism ambitions beyond tea
Rize has long been identified with tea production, but officials increasingly want the province to be recognized for its wider tourism potential.
The arrival of thousands of international runners, support staff, media members and spectators is expected to generate activity across hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, guides, retailers and other tourism businesses.
Rize Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş has also highlighted the event’s potential to strengthen sports tourism across the province and the wider Eastern Black Sea region.
The presence of Rize-Artvin Airport provides an additional gateway for visitors traveling to the region, while the event’s annual return could help establish the Kaçkar Mountains as a more recognizable destination on the international adventure-tourism map.
Bak said Rize’s appeal extends well beyond its reputation as Türkiye’s tea capital.
“Rize is not only the capital of tea,” he said. “With its nature, culture and sports tourism potential, it is one of Türkiye’s most special cities. We will bring the world together in the Kaçkar Mountains.”
Ever since Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah posted a photo of himself last month sitting on a small boulder in a remote highland more than an hour from the city of Trabzon in northeastern Türkiye, fans have flocked to the spot to pose in the same position.
The unlikely tourist attraction is not the only sign of the Salah-mania sweeping Türkiye since the Egyptian star signed with the Trabzonspor club in August after leaving England’s iconic Liverpool club.
His arrival came as a much-needed boost to Turkish football fans’ spirits, which had been dashed months earlier when Türkiye’s national team played in its first World Cup in 24 years only to exit the tournament without scoring any goals.
“God willing, we will win the championship title with him this year,” said Sinan Mor, who attended a match hosted by Trabzonspor Monday against Beşiktaş, one of Türkiye’s most popular football clubs, which was in talks to sign Salah before he went to Trabzonspor.
Mor wore a traditional thobe and a shemagh head wrap in the team’s colors with sunglasses that had “MO SALAH” written on them.
Ahead of the match, Associated Press journalists who visited the “Salah rock” counted 46 visitors within two hours.
“If you can bring a global superstar to one of the most remote highland villages in Trabzon, that means something to us,” said Mustafa Bektaş, a 44-year-old Trabzon supporter who traveled from Sakarya in western Türkiye for the game and made the trek to pose on the boulder.
In the city, Salah-themed merchandise and art have popped up everywhere. Muralist Yıldıray Yıldırım said he’s received multiple requests for Salah-themed murals outside local businesses after he painted an image of him wearing his Trabzonspor jersey on a wall outside a park.
On Google Maps, the club’s stadium is already marked as Mohamed Salah Camii – or mosque – in a nod to his fans’ almost religious fervor.
The move of a world record-breaking football star from the English Premier League to a lower-tier European league team would usually mark the twilight of their career.
But for Salah, transferring from Liverpool to Türkiye’s Trabzonspor at the age of 34 marked a new dawn.
Salah made a name as the third-highest goal scorer in Liverpool’s history and the world record holder for the most left-footed Premier League goals, but his latest campaign was disappointing. He scored only 12 goals, had a public falling out with coach Arne Slot and in March announced he would leave.
Since his transfer to Trabzonspor, fans and commentators say Salah rediscovered his scoring touch, with teammates who bolster his strengths and an entire city that is turning into a fan club.
Nearly all the seats in Trabzonspor’s stadium, with capacity for more than 41,000 people, were full Monday. The stands roared every time Salah touched the ball. In the 71st minute, Salah scored one of the goals that won his team the derby and made him the leading scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig.
The chants “Allah Allah Allah, Mohamed Salah” and “Trabzonlu (from Trabzon) Mohamed Salah” rose from the stands following the goal.
“He is a top player and a very good guy,” Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, Trabzonspor’s center-back, told reporters. “He brings a lot of quality to the team.”
Representatives of Salah did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
Trabzon, a city of nearly a million people on Türkiye’s Black Sea coast, is known for its green valleys, steep hills, a Byzantine-era monastery and headstrong locals with punchy accents.
The local economy runs on agriculture and tourism but its team is the city’s crown jewel.
Trabzonspor’s social media accounts gained a million new followers after signing Salah, according to local news reports, and new direct flights were launched between Cairo and Trabzon in August, anticipating demand from Egyptian tourists.
Travel agent Ibrahim Eyüpoğlu said he has been selling packages with a ticket to a Trabzonspor match, a trip to the rock, and team merchandise.
“Before Salah, even derby games were played with empty stands. Now they’re always full,” he said.
Mustapha Sabbagh has been following Salah for 15 years from Lebanon. He signed up for the package and flew to Trabzon for two days. Then the 73-year-old jumped through a small river to sit on the “Salah rock.”
“Salah is the love of my heart. He has the magic touch,” Sabbagh said as he looked at his soaking-wet shoes and trousers with a big smile. “It’s worth it.”
Even Beşiktaş fans admitted their admiration. Salah’s talks with Beşiktaş collapsed over disagreements about his agent’s commission fee, according to Beşiktaş President Serdar Adalı.
“Unfortunately, I like his football a lot. The man is a star,” says Muhammed Mert Murat, 22, a Beşiktaş fan from Trabzon. He believes that Beşiktaş, which ranks fifth, just under Trabzon, would be leading Türkiye’s Süper Lig if Salah was playing for them.
Murat works in a tea shop next to a housing complex where locals believe Salah lives and dreams about asking him why he didn’t choose Beşiktaş.
Still, he acknowledged, “There is a beautiful love for him here.”
A Kylian Mbappe-inspired Real Madrid ended leaders Barcelona’s unbeaten La Liga run Sunday when the Frenchman scored twice to lead Jose Mourinho’s side to a 2-1 Clasico win.
French superstar Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring before halftime and then scored late to hand Barcelona its first domestic defeat of the season after Raphinha equalized for the champions.
Real Madrid remain third, just a point behind Atletico Madrid and three away from Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, which had won its first nine games before a difficult week.
The Catalans suffered a second straight defeat after losing Tuesday to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Mourinho was pleased with his team’s performance in his first Clasico since returning to Madrid.
“My team had an extraordinary game, very organized, with good concentration and the courage to play out from the back against a team that presses heavily,” Mourinho told reporters.
“We had chances for a second goal … obviously Barcelona had a strong reaction but we were calm and organized and at 1-1 we never lost our composure.”
Barcelona had won six of seven previous Clasicos since Flick arrived but was subdued against Mourinho’s side.
“We lacked freshness,” Flick said of his team’s performance.
“It’s the first defeat in La Liga; we won nine in a row. This is what we have to see.”
“Defeats are a part of the game. We have to analyze, we have to make things better. Now it’s important that we react,” he added.
Los Blancos, without suspended winger Vinicius Junior, won their fifth straight game in all competitions and are finding their footing under veteran Portuguese coach Mourinho.
After two trophyless seasons, Madrid returned to Mourinho to try to stop Barcelona’s dominance and this result gives them hope that they are on the right track.
The opening minutes of the game were cagey, with few opportunities.
Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi twice reacted well to shut down Mbappe, while Real Madrid’s Marc Cucurella repeatedly grabbed the shirt of 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal.
Anthony Gordon, playing in his first Clasico since joining Barcelona from Newcastle, back-heeled the ball to Raphinha, who fired narrowly wide as Barcelona threatened.
The hosts suffered a setback when young defender Xavi Espart suffered an injury and needed to be replaced by Alejandro Balde before the half-hour mark.
Andriy Lunin, playing in goal for Madrid after Thibaut Courtois withdrew from the squad with the flu, saved at his near post from Gordon before the visitors took the lead.
Mbappe scored his 10th league goal of the season after Barcelona’s Gerard Martin cleared a cross directly into the Frenchman, who deflected it into the net.
Barcelona responded by creating a chance for an equalizer, but teenage forward Yamal miscued in front of goal, shooting wide from close range.
The game opened up, and Yan Diomande came close to doubling Madrid’s lead before halftime, drilling into the side-netting.
Martin was effective early in the second half as he held off Jude Bellingham, who could neither beat the defender nor find a free Mbappe.
Raphinha, who had a quiet first half, equalized for Barcelona just after the hour mark.
Pedri fed the Brazilian, La Liga’s top goal-scorer with 13, who fired through Bellingham’s legs, and Lunin could not keep the shot out.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper made an excellent save to deny Martin at a corner as Barcelona pressed forward.
Yamal bent an effort wide with Lunin at full stretch, and Barcelona substitute Frenkie de Jong had a shot blocked by Dean Huijsen.
However, the Catalans were punished late when substitute Gabriel Jesus lost possession and Madrid raced through on goal.
Eduardo Camavinga beat Cubarsi and cut the ball back for Mbappe to tap in his second of the night into the net after Joan Garcia was drawn out of position.
It marked 100 goals since Mbappe joined Madrid from PSG in 2024.
“This is a good message today, but we can’t think the season is done. Next week at Racing Santander, we have to play with the same intensity,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina won her fourth title of the season with a straight-set victory over Leylah Fernandez in the Ningbo Open final Sunday.
The top seed and defending champion won 6-2, 6-2 in 73 minutes against world No. 30 Fernandez of Canada.
The victory in Ningbo also helped the Kazakh to take a big step towards securing the year-end No. 1 ranking, further burnishing a spectacular season in which she won the Australian Open title before adding the U.S. Open crown to reach the summit.
“It’s amazing to play in front of you … it’s my second year here and my second win,” Rybakina told the crowd in the eastern Chinese city after collecting a tour-leading fourth title of the season and 15th overall.
“It’s such a special place for me. Thanks so much Ningbo.”
Rybakina’s latest triumph is a timely lift after setbacks in Beijing and Wuhan, as she turns her attention to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week before she launches her title defense at the season finale in Indian Wells, California, from Nov. 8.
Trademark power
Top seed Rybakina made the breakthrough with her trademark power in the fifth game and then unleashed a searing cross-court backhand winner to go 4-2 up, before the 27-year-old wrapped up the opening set in 38 minutes.
Fernandez made a bright start to the next set but Rybakina absorbed the pressure and raised her level to force an error and break for 2-1, with the three-times Grand Slam champion breezing to victory from there.
Fernandez, who won the Singapore Open last month, remained upbeat despite a disappointing showing in the final and backed herself to finish the season strongly after a grueling run of matches in Ningbo.
“I’d like to congratulate Elena for a wonderful week and a wonderful year. Congratulations to you and your team,” the 24-year-old said, before addressing her own team.
“We’re having a good end of year. We’ve just got to keep going and keep working hard.”
Turkish football’s ultimate rivalry takes center stage Monday night as league leaders Galatasaray welcome archrivals Fenerbahçe for a blockbuster Süper Lig clash.
Galatasaray enter the high-stakes fixture riding high after a morale-boosting 4-2 UEFA Champions League victory away against French side Lille.
Domestically, the defending champions have turned RAMS Park into an impenetrable fortress, extending an astonishing 39-match unbeaten run at home in league play (31 wins, 8 draws). Their last domestic defeat on home soil came precisely against Fenerbahçe on May 19, 2024.
Okan Buruk’s side has mastered the art of late drama this season, securing 10 crucial points from goals scored in the dying minutes, including Victor Osimhen’s 90th-minute equalizer against Arca Çorum FK, Gabriel Sara’s 90+1st-minute winner against İstanbul Başakşehir, late heroics from Barış Alper Yılmaz and Mario Lemina against Kasımpaşa, and Deniz Gül’s 88th-minute winner last week against Gençlerbirliği. A victory on Monday would mark Buruk’s 120th league win at the helm of the Lions.
However, Galatasaray will have to cope without Portuguese star Rafael Leao, who is sidelined with a mild-to-moderate groin strain sustained in the win over Gençlerbirliği.
Fenerbahçe arrive in formidable domestic form under manager Ismail Kartal, riding a three-match league winning streak and boasting the Süper Lig’s most prolific attack with 22 goals.
The Yellow Canaries have kept clean sheets in each of their last four top-flight outings, outscoring opponents 14-0 across emphatic victories over Eyüpspor (8-0), Çaykur Rizespor (3-0), and Alanyaspor (3-0).
Despite their domestic surge, Fenerbahçe stumbled in Europe mid-week, letting a two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 Champions League home draw against Slavia Prague.
The visitors are also battling a heavy injury toll: Marco Asensio is sidelined following left knee cartilage surgery, Nathan Ake faces a three-week layoff with a hamstring injury, and Mert Müldür and Jayden Oosterwolde remain fitness concerns.
In-form striker Vedat Muriqi, who has netted seven league goals this campaign, is expected to lead Fenerbahçe’s attack.
Recent history favors hosts
History heavily favors the hosts in recent derbies. Fenerbahçe are winless in their last four league encounters against Galatasaray, suffering a 3-0 defeat in this exact fixture at RAMS Park in April.
Furthermore, Galatasaray’s talismanic Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen boasts an undefeated record against the Yellow Canaries across four league matches and one Turkish Cup fixture – highlighted by a two-goal performance in the 2024-25 cup quarterfinals.
With championship implications and fierce local pride on the line, the tie could be a early make-or-break moment in the season.
Entering the weekend, Galatasaray sit atop the standings with 19 points on the back of six wins, one draw and a defeat. Third-placed Fenerbahçe trail by three points with 16, having recorded five wins, a draw, and two losses.
The Intercontinental Derby, scheduled for a 09:30 p.m. kickoff, will be officiated by referee Atilla Karaoğlan.
Possible Lineups
Galatasaray
Uğurcan Çakır; Roland Sallai, Davinson Sanchez, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Eren Elmalı; Lucas Torreira, Mario Lemina; Leroy Sane, Gabriel Sara, Barış Alper Yılmaz; Victor Osimhen.
Fenerbahçe
Ederson; Nelson Semedo, Milan Skriniar, Oppong, Levent Mercan; N’Golo Kante, Matteo Guendouzi; Oğuz Aydın, İrfan Can Kahveci, Mason Greenwood; Vedat Muriqi.
Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on Friday, becoming the first footballer to win the prestigious Spanish honor individually in recognition of his extraordinary career and charitable work supporting disadvantaged children.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward collected the award from Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, during a ceremony at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, attended by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
Fans wearing Argentina jerseys cheered and chanted Messi’s name as he arrived at the ceremony, accompanied by the sound of bagpipes and drums in the capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias.
The award, announced June 3, recognizes Messi’s achievements on the field, his commitment to helping disadvantaged children access education and health care, and the values of humility, teamwork and fair play that have defined his career.
The jury praised the Argentine as “the most successful footballer of all time,” highlighting both his sporting accomplishments and his social work.
Presenting the award, Leonor praised Messi’s ability to read the game and make decisive choices under pressure, while putting the interests of his team ahead of individual glory.
“He turned the extraordinary into routine by reading the game and deciding on the most effective option in fractions of a second, while respecting the collective essence above ego,” she said.
Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, has won eight Ballon d’Or awards, a World Cup with Argentina and dozens of major trophies at club level.
He spent 21 years at Barcelona, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer and helping establish a dominant era in Spanish and European football under coaches Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
After leaving Barcelona in 2021, Messi spent two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami, where he continues to play in Major League Soccer.
His international career has also brought historic success. Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, assist provider and most-capped player, Messi captained his country to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, ending Argentina’s 36-year wait for the trophy.
Speaking at an event with children in Oviedo on Thursday, Messi stressed the importance of accepting both victory and defeat.
“The most important thing is to know how to lose and how to win,” he said, describing that attitude as fundamental to football.
The Princess of Asturias Award places Messi among a distinguished group of sporting figures recognized for their achievements and wider contributions to society.
Previous football recipients include former Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who shared the honor in 2012. Brazil’s national team received the award in 2002 after winning its fifth World Cup title.
Other past recipients of the sports award include tennis champions Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, Kenyan marathon great Eliud Kipchoge and American skier Lindsey Vonn.
Established in 1981, the Princess of Asturias Awards recognize achievements across sports, the arts, science and other fields, with an emphasis on contributions to human coexistence, solidarity and international cooperation. Each award carries prize money of 50,000 euros, or about $56,000.
Messi was among several prominent figures honored at Friday’s ceremony. British author Julian Barnes, American astronaut Christina Koch and musician Patti Smith also received awards.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has warned against judging his team against Barcelona’s established success ahead of Sunday’s Clasico, insisting his second spell at the Santiago Bernabeu remains a work in progress despite a strong start.
Mourinho returns to Camp Nou with Madrid having won their last four matches across La Liga and the Champions League, but they sit third in the standings, six points behind defending champions Barcelona, who have maintained a perfect league record.
Barcelona, coached by Hansi Flick, have won back-to-back La Liga titles and scored 39 goals in their first nine league games. Madrid have scored 23, although they have also demonstrated their attacking potential, netting four or more goals in four league matches.
The contrasting records have fueled expectations that Barcelona could dominate Sunday’s encounter. Mourinho, however, believes those assessments overlook the time needed to build a team capable of consistently challenging for major honors.
“I think the people that thought a week ago Barca would thrash us will keep thinking the same thing,” Mourinho told reporters Saturday.
“I don’t think just for the Paris game, or Madrid’s (4-1 win against) Leipzig, they will change their way of thinking.”
Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season in a 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Madrid defeated RB Leipzig 4-1 at home. Mourinho said neither result should dramatically alter perceptions of the teams ahead of a fixture that often defies form.
The Portuguese coach has been in charge for only a few months since returning to Madrid, while Flick took over Barcelona in 2024 and has had considerably more time to establish his methods.
Mourinho said his squad was still learning his tactical expectations and developing an identity, making comparisons with a more settled Barcelona side premature.
“People look at us like a finished product, but finished products in football are difficult because they are never finished,” he said.
“This is the start of a product, we’re in an initial phase where the coach is learning, analysing, bit by bit defining paths, the players are learning about the coach. Comparing a team in this state to more established sides, I think is unfair.”
Mourinho added that his ambitions for Madrid remained unchanged despite the gap between the teams.
“No. Madrid with Mourinho wins titles,” he said when asked whether Sunday’s match would determine if his side could compete for silverware.
The coach has won 10 of his 12 matches since returning to the club, but his immediate challenge is to close the gap on a Barcelona team that has enjoyed a commanding run of results in the rivalry.
Flick’s side have won six of their seven Clasicos against Madrid since his arrival, scoring 22 goals and conceding 11. Sunday’s meeting will offer Mourinho an early opportunity to measure his progress against one of his team’s biggest obstacles.
Mourinho prepares for another Clasico battle
Mourinho’s return revives a rivalry that defined much of his first spell at Madrid between 2010 and 2013, when he attempted to break Barcelona’s dominance under Pep Guardiola.
He achieved that goal by guiding Madrid to the 2011-12 La Liga title, finishing with a record 100 points. But his tenure was also marked by fierce confrontations with Barcelona, both on the pitch and in public.
The rivalry reached an extraordinary intensity during the 2010-11 season, when the sides met four times in 18 days. The first encounter ended in a 1-1 league draw, before Madrid beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final through Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time winner.
Barcelona responded by eliminating Madrid in the Champions League semifinals, winning the first leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid defender Pepe was sent off, and Mourinho described the decision as a “scandal.” A 1-1 draw in the return leg sent Barcelona through to the final, which they won.
The period also produced one of the rivalry’s most notorious incidents. During a heated confrontation in August 2011, Mourinho poked Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye.
Mourinho had previously worked at Barcelona as an assistant to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal in the 1990s. He was later overlooked for the head coaching position in 2008, when the club appointed Guardiola to replace Frank Rijkaard.
His battles with Guardiola and Lionel Messi became central to the rivalry, sometimes overshadowing the football itself. Guardiola once said he could not and would not compete with Mourinho, whom he called the “boss,” in the press room.
Mourinho’s confrontational approach has resurfaced during his second Madrid spell. Following a derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, he presented printed evidence of incidents he believed warranted two red cards for the opposition. He also declined to attend a news conference after Vinicius Junior was sent off against Villarreal.
Critics have often interpreted such actions as attempts to divert attention from his team’s performances. A victory against Barcelona would strengthen his position and give him a more direct answer to questions about Madrid’s progress.
President Florentino Perez brought Mourinho back in part to restore Madrid’s ability to compete consistently with Flick’s Barcelona, who have become the dominant side in recent meetings.
Tactical decisions
Despite his insistence that the team remains a work in progress, Mourinho has seen encouraging signs during Madrid’s recent winning run.
He has begun settling on preferred selections after rotating players during the opening weeks of the season. Federico Valverde, whom Mourinho initially did not consider a natural right-back, has started in that position in Madrid’s last two matches.
The Uruguay international impressed in the Champions League victory over Leipzig, helping Madrid create attacking opportunities down the right flank.
“We created a lot on that side, and Fede had a fantastic match,” Mourinho said after the game.
Valverde’s move to defense has also opened space in midfield for other options. Arda Guler featured in that role against Sevilla, while Bernardo Silva was deployed against Leipzig, giving Madrid additional possession and improving their ability to build attacks.
The Clasico presents a different tactical challenge, however. Barcelona’s attacking movement and ability to control possession could force Mourinho to adopt a more cautious approach, potentially using a defensive midfielder or even a center-back in an advanced role, as he did with Pepe during his first spell at Madrid.
Mourinho declined to outline any specific plans for containing Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, insisting that Madrid would not abandon their own identity to neutralize an individual opponent.
The 19-year-old Spain international has been in outstanding form and is hoping to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday.
“He’s a great player and great players you respect,” Mourinho said.
“One thing is respecting, another thing is to change plans, structures, forgetting your own essence. That we will not do, neither for him or any other player of great quality we face.”
The Madrid coach also dismissed the idea that recent results would determine Sunday’s outcome, describing the Clasico as a contest unlike any other in club football.
“We’ve been in a good dynamic, winning games, playing well, scoring goals, but in the Clasico it doesn’t matter what you did before, it has no influence,” he said.
“The Clasico is unique, normally the football world stops to watch it. Hopefully it’s a great game. And we win.”
Barcelona will also have individual milestones in sight. Flick is approaching his 100th victory in charge and could guide the team to a new record for the best start to a La Liga season, surpassing Madrid’s previous mark of nine consecutive wins set in 1968-69.
The German coach played down the significance of Barcelona’s defeat in Paris, saying his players had recovered and were ready for the challenge.
“El Clasico is different. It’s the best game football has to offer, and everyone will be watching,” Flick said. “I have a good feeling. The players have recovered and are ready for the game. The team is really looking forward to playing it.”
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