Mourinho Warns Real Madrid Over RB Leipzig Champions League Test
Jose Mourinho has warned Real Madrid not to mistake RB Leipzig for the side beaten heavily by Bayern Munich, demanding a focused performance when the German club visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday in the Champions League.
Madrid target another European win
Real head into matchday three with six points from their opening two league-phase fixtures and are ninth in the standings. Wins over Inter Milan and AS Roma have put Mourinho’s team in a strong early position, while a fourth successive victory in all competitions would further improve their route towards the knockout rounds.
But Mourinho made clear that Leipzig’s defeat in Munich should not influence Madrid’s approach.
“Leipzig are not defined by what happened in Munich,” Mourinho said. “They beat PSV, they have three points and they want to qualify. We have won three games in a short period and the latest performance was very complete, but that does not win the next match for us. We must play well and win again.”
League-phase position
| Team | Matches | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 2 | 6 | 9th |
| RB Leipzig | 2 | 3 | Not stated |
Mourinho focused on qualification
The Madrid coach refused to discuss his side as potential Champions League winners at this stage, saying the immediate task is to get through the league phase rather than look towards the final.
His priorities are clear:
- Reach 11 points, the target Mourinho believes can secure qualification.
- Push for a top-eight finish in the league table.
- Avoid the playoff round Madrid had to contest last season.
Mourinho said the extra knockout tie brings pressure and responsibility that can be avoided. He also believes a high points total may be needed to finish inside the top eight, so Madrid will take the campaign one match at a time.
What happens next
Madrid host Leipzig at the Bernabeu before turning immediately towards a major Liga fixture against Barcelona in El Clasico. Mourinho’s message ahead of both tests is that recent momentum counts for little unless his players keep delivering on the pitch.
