Five things we've learned about Mourinho's Real Madrid before the derby against Atlético

Six matchdays don't tell you everything, but they do tell you something: six wins and one loss is the record for José Mourinho's Real Madrid so far in the 2026-27 season, and yet the team still isn't fully convincing. The numbers are there, but the sense of solidity isn't. This Sunday brings the first real test: the derby at Atlético Madrid, right before the international break. A good moment to pause and draw five early conclusions from the season so far.

Güler, the one who makes everything click

On a team with more question marks than certainties, Arda Güler has become one of the few things Mourinho is sure of, even if the coach himself won't admit it publicly.

Arda isn't indispensable. Nobody is indispensable.José Mourinho

What happens on the field says otherwise: Madrid is a different team with the Turkish playmaker on the pitch. His ease operating between the lines and his command of the ball paper over two holes the team has carried for a while now. Some compare him to Mesut Özil during Mourinho's first stint at the club, for his ability to spring counterattacks and mesh with the wing play of Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. With two goals and two assists so far this season, his place in the starting lineup is no longer up for debate.

Espí, the savior with an expensive-signing's name

If there's one player who has rescued points that seemed lost, it's Carlos Espí. The Spanish forward showed up to save two crucial wins: against Espanyol on opening day and against Elche in the most recent match, scoring both goals deep into stoppage time. His arrival has restored a role the team knew well under Joselu during the Ancelotti era: the backup number 9 who comes through when things get complicated. A tall, sturdy target man, he's starting to justify the 22 million euros Madrid paid for him. That's no coincidence: he was Mourinho's direct request, since the coach has always wanted a player like that within reach, the way Emmanuel Adebayor once was for him.

Up top, Mbappé and Bellingham are performing at an extremely high level: the Frenchman has 8 goals and two assists, while the Englishman has three goals and two assists. Dean Huijsen is also standing out as one of the most improved players, showing more confidence and composure building play from the back than he did last season. The less flattering picture belongs to Vinícius: far from his best physical shape and imprecise in front of goal, his starting spot is starting to spark debate among fans, though for now Mourinho continues to back him.

Midfield still a work in progress

In midfield, Mourinho has one fixed idea: a double pivot, with Federico Valverde as an untouchable piece. He's tried Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga alongside him, but everything points to Aurélien Tchouaméni eventually being the one to partner him. The Frenchman carried an injury early in the season, which forced emergency solutions like Trent Alexander-Arnold playing as a '6'. The team still isn't controlling possession the way it should, and Mourinho is counting on Tchouaméni to be the piece that brings order to that area of the pitch.

And that's where the underlying problem lies: according to Sofascore data, Madrid is the team in Europe that wastes the most clear-cut chances per game. That's turned matches that should have been comfortable into unnecessary scares, as happened against Espanyol, Real Betis, Inter, Rayo Vallecano and Elche themselves. Five out of seven matches decided in nervy fashion say a lot about how much order this team still needs to find before facing Atlético.