La Liga Daily Report - 2026-10-24: Mourinho rejects Barcelona comparisons before El Clásico

José Mourinho said on Saturday that comparing his developing Real Madrid side with Barcelona was unfair ahead of Sunday’s El Clásico. Madrid travelled to Camp Nou six points behind Hansi Flick’s unbeaten leaders, with Barcelona having won their opening nine La Liga matches and Madrid sitting third. Barcelona’s 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in midweek ended their perfect start across competitions, while Madrid had won their last four matches. Mourinho’s side had also beaten RB Leipzig 4-1, but the coach stressed that he had only been in charge for a few months after returning to the club this summer.

Mourinho said, “People look at us like a finished product, but finished products in football are difficult because they are never finished.” He argued that Madrid remained at an earlier stage of development than Flick’s Barcelona, who have won consecutive La Liga titles since the German’s arrival in 2024. Flick, meanwhile, described the fixture as more significant than its three points and praised Madrid’s attacking quality. The contrasting messages framed the match as both a test of Barcelona’s authority and an early measure of Mourinho’s second spell, with victory carrying major consequences for the title race.

Julián Alvarez scored on Saturday as Atlético Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruña 1-0 at home in La Liga. The result moved Diego Simeone’s side to second place on 25 points, two behind leaders Barcelona before the Catalans’ El Clásico against Real Madrid. Deportivo had created the clearer opportunity during a cautious first half, but Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved from Lorenzo Amatucci. Alvarez then struck early in the second half, meeting Alejandro Grimaldo’s low delivery and finishing from close range for his second goal in as many matches.

The victory extended Atlético’s league winning run to six matches and kept the title race tightly packed behind Barcelona. Alvarez had faced whistles from supporters earlier in the season after reportedly trying to leave the club during the summer, but his recent goals have eased that tension. Simeone’s team still had to work through a slow opening and limited attacking spark, making the narrow margin significant. Atlético’s position also meant Barcelona could increase their lead with a victory over Madrid, while a defeat would have left the chasing pack within immediate reach.

Georges Mikautadze scored in stoppage time on Saturday as Villarreal came from behind to beat Valencia 2-1 at Mestalla. Pepelu had put Valencia ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, before American defender Alex Freeman headed Villarreal level after 69 minutes. The visitors then lost Pape Gueye to a red card for striking José Gayà in the face with his elbow. Valencia were also reduced to 10 men when Harvey Elliott received two quick yellow cards for apparent dissent, leaving both teams short-handed before Mikautadze settled the derby.

The win lifted Villarreal into mid-table, while Valencia remained 19th and inside the relegation zone. Villarreal’s comeback was especially notable because they had to manage the closing stages with fewer players after Gueye’s dismissal. Mikautadze’s late finish turned a match that appeared to be heading towards a damaging draw into a valuable away victory. Valencia’s disciplinary problems compounded the result, with Elliott’s sending-off following Gueye’s dismissal and leaving the hosts unable to protect their advantage or respond effectively to Villarreal’s final push.

The owners of the Denver Broncos joined a consortium that purchased a 42 per cent stake in Valencia on Friday, according to an announcement reported on Saturday. Greg Penner and Carrie Walton-Penner made the investment through Penner Sports Group, with the consortium operating as Pitchwise Holdings and valuing the La Liga club at roughly $1.4 billion. The group also includes executives from hedge fund KKR, while Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim remains Valencia’s controlling owner. The transaction expanded the Penners’ sporting interests beyond American football and followed their earlier acquisition of a 40 per cent stake in the Colorado Rockies.

Valencia are currently near the bottom of La Liga and play in a stadium holding about 49,000 spectators, while construction continues on the proposed 70,000-capacity Nou Mestalla. The new investment therefore arrives as the club faces both sporting pressure and a major infrastructure project. The Penners’ involvement gives the consortium a significant minority position without changing Lim’s controlling status. For Valencia, the immediate challenge remains on the pitch, where the club’s position in the relegation zone has increased the importance of any future financial and sporting decisions.

Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports at a ceremony in Oviedo on Friday, becoming the first footballer to win the Spanish honour individually. Princess Leonor presented the award at the Campoamor Theatre in the presence of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. The Princess of Asturias Foundation had announced Messi as the winner on June 3, recognising his career, sporting contribution and charitable work supporting disadvantaged children. The former Barcelona captain’s honours include the World Cup with Argentina, eight Ballon d’Or awards and four Champions League titles with Barcelona.

The award recognised more than Messi’s achievements on the pitch, highlighting his sustained efforts to improve disadvantaged children’s access to education and healthcare. Barcelona congratulated their former captain after the ceremony, while Inter Miami also paid tribute to him. Messi spent more than two decades developing at Barcelona and remains closely associated with the club’s most successful era, even though he now plays in Major League Soccer. The individual distinction added a Spanish national honour to a career already defined by major international trophies and club records.

Getafe offered free agent Jadon Sancho a contract on Saturday that would take him into the 2026-27 season, according to SportBible. The proposed deal was reportedly worth £10,000 a week, with total wages of about €400,000 until June, after Sancho left Manchester United at the end of his five-year contract in June. The 26-year-old had been training with Greater Manchester non-league club Flixton FC to maintain his fitness and had also been linked with Borussia Dortmund. SportBible reported that Sancho had not ruled out joining Getafe.

The report said Sancho was attracted by the prospect of playing in La Liga and wanted to meet Getafe head coach José Bordalás before making a final decision. A move would give the winger an opportunity to restart his career in Spain, but the proposed salary would represent a substantial reduction from his reported Manchester United wage. Getafe’s pursuit also reflects the club’s attempt to add an established international name while operating under financial constraints. Any agreement would still depend on Sancho’s decision and discussions with Bordalás.