Mourinho says qualifying is the target for now as Madrid seek three from three v Leipzig
José Mourinho has played down talk of winning the Champions League before Real Madrid host RB Leipzig, saying the aim for now is simply to qualify. Madrid face the German side without Raúl Asencio, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy in their last match before Sunday's Clásico at Camp Nou.
José Mourinho has refused to talk up Real Madrid’s chances of winning the Champions League, insisting before Wednesday’s visit of RB Leipzig that it is too early for such talk and that the club’s target for now is to qualify, according to EFE. He also rejected the idea that any player in his squad is untouchable, saying only the club badge holds that status.
Ibrahima Konaté faced the media at Ciudad Real Madrid before his manager, Somosfutbol reported. Madrid go into Matchday 3 with six points, and victory would keep their winning run in the league phase intact. Orange TV and Movistar Plus+ will broadcast the match, the club said.
Mourinho warns that Leipzig’s rout in Munich is misleading
Leipzig’s weekend could hardly have gone worse. Luis Díaz scored a hat-trick in Bayern’s win at the Allianz Arena, with Andrija Maksimović’s 91st-minute goal the only reply, according to the Bundesliga. Mourinho asked that the German side be judged on their win over PSV instead, and warned that three straight wins offer no guarantee of a fourth, Somosfutbol reported. The visitors arrive at the Bernabéu in 21st place in the league-phase standings.
Madrid’s own momentum owes much to the comeback in Rome. They trailed 3-1 after Marten De Roon and Donyell Malen, twice, had overturned Mbappé’s opener, before Carlos Espí (83′), Endrick (85′) and Antonio Rüdiger (90′) struck to complete a 4-3 win, Europa Press reported. All three late goals came from corners in the final seven minutes, according to COPE. Madrid followed that by beating Sevilla 4-1.
The fixture also sets Yan Diomandé against his former club. Madrid announced a deal with Leipzig for the player on 6 August 2026, on a contract running until 30 June 2033, and ESPN reported a fee of €125m plus up to €15m in bonuses.
Three absentees thin Madrid’s options before the Clásico
Dr Manuel Leyes operated successfully on Asencio’s right shinbone, where the player had sustained a stress fracture, the club’s medical report of 1 October 2026 said. The procedure was carried out under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical services. Rodrygo is still working his way back after the same surgeon operated on a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn lateral meniscus in his right leg on 10 March 2026. It was on 3 March 2026 that the club’s medical staff had diagnosed both injuries. Before the Sevilla match, he had still not completed a full training session with the rest of the squad, El Debate reported.
Mendy’s absence is administrative. Because he was injured when Madrid submitted their league-phase lists to UEFA on 4 September 2026, he was left out, and new signing Sergio Martínez took his place on the 25-man A list, EFE reported.
There is better news on Vinícius, who is expected to start despite his ban, Sports Mole reported. Barcelona are next for Madrid after Leipzig, so the line-up Mourinho picks on Wednesday will offer clues to how he intends to approach that game. The Clásico is at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Sources
Mourinho and a player will hold a press conference after training (Real Madrid)
New medical report on Asencio (Real Madrid)
Medical report on Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
New medical report on Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium: Badefa, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
