Jose Mourinho's second spell at Real Madrid has already exposed stubborn problems just seven league matches in, with the club's derby defeat to Atletico Madrid serving as a stark wake-up call. After a 13-year absence, the Portuguese manager returned this summer on a three-year contract tasked with restoring both stability and silverware following two trophyless seasons. However, familiar tensions have resurfaced faster than many anticipated, leaving supporters questioning the team's consistency and Mourinho's tactical approach. The setback leaves Madrid fourth in La Liga, already trailing defending champions Barcelona by six points—a deficit that the club has only overcome once before during Fabio Capello's 2006-07 title triumph. Barcelona remain unbeaten with 31 goals across their seven wins, while Raphinha has already found the net 12 times. With Atletico Madrid second and Real Betis third, both five points behind, the title race appears to be slipping away before October has even arrived.
The most glaring deficiency revealed at Atletico was Madrid's inability to dominate the midfield battle. Mourinho deployed Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde in a double pivot with Jude Bellingham operating higher up the pitch—a setup that provided energy and defensive solidity but left the team struggling to control tempo and generate attacking opportunities from deeper areas. Bernardo Silva's introduction in the final eight minutes proved too little, too late, as Madrid were already chasing the game by that point. The selection puzzle now facing Mourinho is whether to maintain the double pivot or introduce more creative influence from midfield. Silva's capacity to dictate the rhythm of matches makes him an obvious candidate, while Arda Guler presents another creative alternative further forward. The key challenge lies in finding the right balance that allows Madrid to exert greater control without abandoning the defensive stability the double pivot provides.
Real Madrid possesses an embarrassment of attacking riches with Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, and Bellingham all capable of single-handedly deciding matches, yet their collective performance has been inconsistent. Against Atletico, Mbappe proved largely ineffective with minimal touches on the ball, while Vinicius was substituted early in the second half following Dean Huijsen's red card. The fundamental problem is orchestrating these three attacking forces to complement rather than crowd one another. Vinicius must rediscover the explosive directness that troubles opposing defenses, while Mbappe requires better service rather than being forced to create his own opportunities. An intriguing alternative exists in Carlos Espi, the 21-year-old who has already made an immediate impact by scoring late winners against both Espanyol and Elche in his league debut appearances. His clinical finishing in stoppage time suggests he merits additional opportunities, particularly when Madrid require a focal point late in matches.
Defensively, Madrid's vulnerability during transitions represents perhaps the most troubling concern. Atletico repeatedly exploited gaps around the midfield to launch rapid counterattacks, while Huijsen's sending-off exacerbated the problem. With Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Huijsen, and Marc Cucurella forming the back line, there is individual quality present, but Mourinho will demand greater cohesion—especially when full-backs advance forward. Thibaut Courtois' commanding performance proved how crucial the goalkeeper remains, making several vital saves to keep Madrid competitive. Mourinho now faces a three-week international break before hosting Villarreal on October 10 and traveling to Barcelona two weeks later—a run of fixtures that will prove defining for his second stint at the Bernabeu. The window provides time to reassess and implement solutions, but with Barcelona already establishing daylight at the top of the table, the margin for further error continues to narrow.