Mourinho's Bernabeu homecoming upended by suspension, racism row

Madrid—When the Champions League anthem rings out at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night, the stadium will welcome back Jose Mourinho for the first time since his Real Madrid exit in 2013. Yet the Portuguese tactician’s highly anticipated return as head coach of Portuguese giants Benfica has been clouded by a suspension that will keep him off the touchline and by an ongoing racism controversy that has dominated headlines across Europe.

Mourinho, who guided Real Madrid to a La Liga title and a Champions League semi-final during his three-year tenure in the Spanish capital, has not set foot inside the Bernabeu as an opposing coach since departing the club more than a decade ago. The mid-week group-stage clash was expected to be an emotional reunion, but UEFA’s disciplinary ruling means the 60-year-old will watch from the stands rather than the dugout, complicating preparations for a Benfica side eager to secure a pivotal away result.

Club officials confirmed on Tuesday that Mourinho will address the squad in the dressing room before kick-off and will relay instructions via a designated assistant throughout the 90 minutes. The suspension, linked to prior disciplinary action, has overshadowed what was billed as a celebratory homecoming for a manager who once thrived on the Bernabeu’s demanding stage.

Compounding the tension, European football’s governing body continues to investigate allegations of discriminatory behavior that surfaced after Benfica’s previous continental fixture. Although no formal verdict has been delivered, the episode has intensified scrutiny on Mourinho and his staff, adding an unwelcome subplot to a match already heavy with narrative.

For Real Madrid supporters, Wednesday offers a chance to salute a coach who ended Barcelona’s domestic dominance and delivered a Copa del Rey triumph. For Mourinho, it represents an opportunity to reassert his Champions League pedigree—albeit from a distance—while guiding Benfica toward the knockout rounds.

Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CET, with both clubs aware that three points could prove decisive in a tightly balanced group. Regardless of the off-field turbulence, the encounter promises drama, nostalgia, and the unmistakable sense that, even in absentia, Jose Mourinho remains a central figure in European football’s theatre.