Jose Mourinho finds new midfield formula as Real Madrid gain control ahead of El Clasico

Jose Mourinho finds new midfield formula as Real Madrid gain control ahead of El Clasico Real Madrid appear to have found a more effective midfield combination just days before facing Barcelona. Jose Mourinho has seemingly realised in recent games that having a creative midfield player could help transform his team’s possession game. According to AS , Real Madrid’s victories over Sevilla and RB Leipzig have strengthened Mourinho’s belief in using Arda Guler or Bernardo Silva in deeper creative roles. These victories have also confirmed to the Portuguese manager that Fede Valverde might be better used at right-back . Mourinho praises Real Madrid’s improved midfield balance The Portuguese coach highlighted the influence of his creative midfielders following the Champions League victory over Leipzig. “When the team has a player like Bernardo Silva or Arda in midfield, it has better build-up play, more control and faster transitions,” Mourinho explained. Bernardo Silva impressed in midfield against RB Leipzig. (Picture credit: Real Madrid website) The numbers support his assessment. Los Blancos recorded 65.1 percent possession against Sevilla and 64.4 percent against Leipzig, their two highest figures across the opening 12 matches of the season. Previously, Mourinho’s side had averaged just 49.5 percent possession. Against Leipzig, Madrid also completed 679 of their 742 attempted passes, high numbers by their standards. Valverde and Guler also showed signs of forming a partnership on the right flank, exchanging 42 passes with one another. Real Madrid may have found the balance Mourinho wanted The significance of this experiment by Jose Mourinho extends beyond just these two victories. Real Madrid have sometimes struggled to combine their physical strength and attacking talent with sustained control of possession. Adding another creative midfielder appears to offer Mourinho a way to address that imbalance without sacrificing the team’s ability to attack quickly. It remains to be seen what midfield Mourinho goes with against Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) Valverde’s role is particularly interesting. His energy allows him to contribute defensively while supporting midfield combinations, giving Madrid a different dimension from right-back. Meanwhile, Guler and Bernardo possess the technical quality to operate in tight spaces and maintain possession under pressure. Barcelona will provide the first major examination of this new midfield set-up, and controlling the ball against Hansi Flick’s team will not be easy. With Real Madrid trailing by six points, the midfield could help them enjoy more control in their bid for three points, and it remains to be seen how the two teams match up on Sunday.