La Liga Delays Real Madrid, Barcelona Season Openers

Jose Mourinho’s first LaLiga game in charge of Real Madrid in his second spell at the club will be away at Espanyol on August 22 after Los Blancos’ original opener was pushed back on Tuesday

Madrid were due to host Real Sociedad on the opening weekend of the season but LaLiga have moved that game to August 26.

Champions Barcelona will now begin their season at Elche on August 23, with their original opener at home against Athletic Bilbao also delayed until August 27.

LaLiga made the decision to change the schedule because several players from both sides are involved in the World Cup semifinals.

Atletico Madrid, who also have players still at the tournament, will still kick off against Malaga on Wednesday August 19.

The Spanish top flight season begins with Alaves hosting Getafe and Rayo Vallecano visiting Sevilla on Saturday August 15.

While Barcelona retained their coach, Mourinho began a second spell at Real Madrid on Friday..

Mourinho said he is on a “mission” to create the right culture at the club during his second spell in charge.

The veteran Portuguese was at the club’s training ground overseeing preparations for the start of pre-season next week, after he was named Alvaro Arbeloa’s successor in June.

Los Blancos failed to win a major trophy in the last two seasons and Mourinho’s appointment has widely been viewed as president Florentino Perez trying to restore order and discipline to the dressing room.

“Words are not enough because this is like a mission,” Mourinho told Real Madrid TV.

“I’m not worried about myself, or if I will win a lot or a little, I am here to help everyone to be better, players, staff… to create a culture of work, responsibility, ambition, and something I know well, which is the responsibility and honour of working for Real Madrid.”

Last season huge egos proved hard to manage, with coach Xabi Alonso departing in January, while midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde clashed in May, with the latter treated in hospital.

Neither Alonso nor Arbeloa could find a way to get star players Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior all playing together effectively without the team losing balance.

During his first spell in charge, between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho helped Madrid battle Pep Guardiola’s dominant Barcelona side and created a siege mentality around the club.

“It’s not about working at Real Madrid, it’s working for Real Madrid,” continued the 63-year-old coach.

“It’s with this mission-driven spirit that I am here.”

Real Madrid have signed several players already this summer, bringing in Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate.