Eye pokes, a ‘scandal’ and a war of words: Mourinho brings the Clasico circus back

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is set to enter the fray of one of football's most contentious rivalries, Clasico, when he leads his team against La Liga leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday. The Portuguese veteran's previous tenure at Madrid saw him clash repeatedly with Barcelona and his assistant, Pep Guardiola, leading to a strained relationship.

Mourinho's first spell at Madrid was marked by his efforts to defeat Barcelona under Guardiola's guidance. The Portuguese managed to lead Real Madrid to the Spanish title in 2012, but tensions between the two clubs escalated, with Mourinho and his staff clashing both on and off the pitch.

The 63-year-old, who once worked as an assistant at Barca under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, sparked controversy in August 2011 when he poked then-Barca assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye. Earlier that year, the two teams had clashed four times in just 18 days, demonstrating the intensity of the rivalry.

Mourinho's return to Madrid has seen him immediately dive back into the Clasico circus, brandishing print-outs of incidents to prove his point and refusing a press conference after Vinicius Junior was sent off against Villarreal. His tactics, some argue, are a means to distract from his team's performance.

A victory for Real Madrid in the Clasico against Barcelona might encourage Mourinho to focus on football, but the pressure of facing the Spanish champions, who have won six of seven Clasicos under Hansi Flick, remains high. Despite his short time in charge, Mourinho insists his team is making progress, acknowledging that they are not yet at the level he desires.