José Mourinho is reportedly preparing a tactical plan to counter Barcelona’s midfield strength ahead of the highly anticipated El Clásico, with Real Madrid potentially making several notable changes to their starting lineup.

According to Madrid Universal, Mourinho is carefully assessing his options as he looks for ways to exploit Barcelona’s weaknesses and secure a convincing result against their traditional rivals. The Portuguese coach recognises that winning the midfield battle could prove decisive in a fixture where possession, physical intensity and tactical discipline are expected to play important roles.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has reportedly rotated his squad during the week to manage his players ahead of the crucial encounter. Despite the demands of their recent Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, the Catalan side will be looking to maintain their competitive edge when they face Madrid this weekend.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are approaching the contest with growing confidence, but Mourinho is aware that selecting the right combination of players will be essential to disrupting Barcelona’s preferred style of play. Reports from MARCA suggest that the Madrid manager has settled on a midfield structure designed to provide greater defensive protection while maintaining the ability to launch dangerous attacks.

Aurelien Tchouameni is expected to occupy the defensive midfield position, where his physical strength, positional awareness and ability to interrupt opposition attacks could be particularly valuable. His presence would give Madrid an additional defensive barrier against Barcelona’s technical midfielders and help protect the back line when the hosts attempt to build possession.

Another significant reported decision involves Federico Valverde, who could return to the right-back position. His deployment in defence would allow Eduardo Camavinga to partner Tchouameni in central midfield, providing Madrid with a combination of physical power, mobility and ball progression.

Camavinga’s expected inclusion is noteworthy given his inconsistent playing time this season. However, his recent performance against RB Leipzig has reportedly strengthened Mourinho’s confidence in the Frenchman’s ability to influence a high-pressure contest.

The midfielder’s athleticism, progressive passing and dribbling could offer Madrid additional solutions when transitioning from defence into attack. His ability to carry the ball through congested areas may also help the visitors escape Barcelona’s pressing and create opportunities further up the pitch.

Jude Bellingham is also expected to feature in the midfield setup, while Arda Güler could operate on the right flank. The Turkish international would provide another creative option, potentially receiving freedom to move into advanced positions and contribute to Madrid’s attacking play.

Güler’s vision, technical ability and capacity to create opportunities could be important if Madrid struggle to break through Barcelona’s defensive structure. His movement between the lines may also create space for teammates and give the visitors additional attacking options beyond their central midfield combination.

Mourinho’s reported tactical approach is designed to strengthen Madrid’s presence in the middle of the pitch, limit Barcelona’s ability to dominate possession and improve the team’s effectiveness during transitions. By combining Tchouameni’s defensive qualities with Camavinga’s mobility, Bellingham’s influence and Güler’s creativity, Madrid could aim to control key phases of the encounter.

Although the final lineup remains subject to confirmation, the reported selections indicate that Mourinho is considering a balance between defensive security and attacking versatility as Real Madrid prepare for one of the season’s most demanding fixtures.