Simeone and Mourinho face off again after 12 years apart

The highly anticipated Madrid derby between Atlético and Real Madrid will feature a special encounter on the benches as Diego Pablo Simeone faces José Mourinho again after a 12-year absence since their last meeting.

Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" has pointed out that Diego Simeone and José Mourinho, despite spending many years at the highest levels of football, have not met since 2014, when the Portuguese coach was leading Chelsea, and Simeone managed to overcome him in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals to reach the final in Lisbon.

The most notable encounter between the coaches prior to that was in the 2013 Copa del Rey final, when Simeone led Atlético to victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, during Mourinho's last season with the royal team, ending Atlético's 14-year winless streak in the derby.

Since their last meeting, Mourinho has managed five clubs including Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahçe, and Benfica, while Simeone has continued his role with Atlético, meaning the two coaches have not faced each other again over the years.

Mourinho and Simeone have met in just six matches, with the Portuguese manager achieving three victories, all while he was coaching Real Madrid, alongside one draw and two wins for the Argentine manager.

The upcoming match on Sunday at the Metropolitano Stadium will be the first encounter between the two this year, with a return fixture scheduled at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in March.

With Mourinho's return to the bench at Real Madrid, his list of encounters with Simeone may expand, as they could meet again in the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, or UEFA Champions League.