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Real Madrid Warns of Poor Match Control Before Derby

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 2:11 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Mourinho Lacks Control

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says his team lacks match control ahead of the Madrid derby.
The derby is on Sunday September 20, 2026 at 4:15 pm CEST at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
Opta's supercomputer gives Real Madrid a 46.6 % win chance, Atletico 28.3 % and a draw 25.1 %.
Predicted Real midfield includes midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and midfielder Federico Valverde, with forward Vinícius Júnior leading attack.

Summary

La Liga Cancels

A severe storm flooded Levante’s tunnel with knee-high water, forcing the match against Athletic to be postponed.
La Liga announced the cancellation five minutes after the scheduled start, long after the referee declared the pitch unsafe.
Clubs and fans criticized the league’s delayed communication, demanding clearer emergency protocols.
Valencia’s caretaker manager secured the club’s first win of the season, delivering their second goal of the campaign.

History

Historical Context

During the unusually active 1999 Atlantic hurricane season—driven by a persistent La Niña and producing record-tying five Category 4 storms—the United Kingdom faced its own severe weather when the Great Storm of October 1999 brought 120 km/h gusts, flooding stadiums and forcing the Premier League to postpone six matches. The episode reminds organizers of La Liga’s 2026 Real Madrid-Atletico derby that robust weather protocols remain essential.

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Mourinho Lacks Control

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says his team lacks match control ahead of the Madrid derby.
The derby is on Sunday September 20, 2026 at 4:15 pm CEST at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
Opta's supercomputer gives Real Madrid a 46.6 % win chance, Atletico 28.3 % and a draw 25.1 %.
Predicted Real midfield includes midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and midfielder Federico Valverde, with forward Vinícius Júnior leading attack.

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