Real Madrid manager faces a special litmus test against one of his former clubs

· MadridUniversal

Real Madrid kickstarted their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan, one of Jose Mourinho’s former teams, and the very club with whom he once conquered Europe. Interestingly, Real Madrid’s second Champions League game of the season will see them take on another of Mourinho’s old sides, in the form of […] The post Real Madrid manager faces a special litmus test against one of his former clubs appeared first on Madrid Universal .

Real Madrid kickstarted their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan, one of Jose Mourinho’s former teams, and the very club with whom he once conquered Europe.

Interestingly, Real Madrid’s second Champions League game of the season will see them take on another of Mourinho’s old sides, in the form of AS Roma.

It will be imperative for Los Blancos to secure three points once again as they look to build momentum heading into a demanding run of fixtures, including the October 25 Clasico against Barcelona.

A special return for Mourinho

As reported by Mundo Deportivo , Wednesday’s trip to the Stadio Olimpico carries a personal edge for the Portuguese, who called the ground home between 2021 and 2024.

It was on the Roma bench that he reached his 1,000th match as a coach, and he became the first manager to lead teams to the finals of the Champions League, the Europa League and the Conference League.

He delivered silverware, too, guiding Roma to the inaugural Conference League title in 2021/22 with a 1-0 win over Feyenoord.

The following season he took them to the Europa League final, where they lost on penalties to Sevilla, before his time in Rome ended in January 2024.

A litmus test for Los Blancos

Mourinho will not be the only one feeling the occasion. Dean Huijsen, on loan at Roma from Juventus in 2024, and Antonio Rudiger, a Roma player between 2015 and 2017, both return to a former home.

Beyond the sentiment, the fixture is a genuine test of Madrid’s credentials. Roma sit among the early pacesetters in Serie A and will provide stiff opposition, making this a useful marker of how far Mourinho’s rebuild has come.

With the Clasico and a congested schedule looming, three points in Rome would do far more than strengthen Madrid’s European standing.

Fortunately, Real Madrid will also have Vinicius Jr. available for this match, as his suspension, which could potentially see him miss the Barcelona game , only applies to domestic competitions.

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