Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has set a clear immediate target for his side in the Champions League: qualification for the knockout stages. Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s home fixture against RB Leipzig, Mourinho indicated that accumulating 11 or 12 points should be sufficient to secure their spot.
The Spanish giants currently sit on six points after two league-phase matches. Their upcoming encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu against RB Leipzig is a crucial opportunity to move closer to that qualification benchmark. Leipzig arrives with three points from their opening two games.
Current Form and European Ambitions
Real Madrid enters the match with strong momentum, having secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Roma on October 14, where they scored three goals in seven minutes from corners. This was followed by a convincing 4-1 win against Sevilla. Mourinho urged caution regarding Leipzig, suggesting they should be assessed based on their win against PSV rather than a heavy defeat suffered in Munich.
For Mourinho, the hierarchy of objectives is clear: first, reach the points total required for qualification. Only then will the focus shift to securing a top-eight finish in the league phase, which would allow them to avoid the two-legged play-off round. Winning the competition outright is not the immediate goal, according to the manager.
Team News and Key Players
Real Madrid will be without Asencio, who is recovering from a stress fracture of his right tibia and underwent surgery on October 1. Rodrygo is in the final stages of his recovery but continues to train individually, not yet having completed a full session with the main squad. Ferland Mendy, despite training with the group on October 20, is not registered for the Champions League and will therefore not be available for selection.
One player who has been making an impact is 19-year-old Yan Diomandé, who joined Real Madrid from RB Leipzig. After initially coming off the bench in his first five appearances, Diomandé has started four of the club’s last five matches, contributing one goal and two assists during that run.
Looking Ahead to El Clásico
The match against RB Leipzig holds additional significance as it is Real Madrid’s final fixture before Sunday’s highly anticipated Clásico against Barcelona at Camp Nou. Mourinho’s team selection and any rotation decisions made for the Leipzig game could offer insights into his tactical plans for the upcoming clash with their fierce rivals.