The formula for the playmakers takes off

Mourinho has settled on Bernardo Silva and Tchouameni as his midfield pairing, with Güler operating ahead, creating better control and connection across all lines after 12 matches of experimentation.

Real Madrid have found their midfield formula under Mourinho. After twelve matches of trying different combinations—Valverde-Bernardo Silva, Valverde-Camavinga, and Tchouameni-Valverde—the manager has settled on pairing Tchouameni with Bernardo Silva, with Arda Güler operating in front of them.

The new setup delivered immediate results. Against Racing Santander, Madrid controlled 53% possession compared to 39% in the derby loss to Atlético, completed 529 passes versus 393, and took 22 shots on goal rather than eight. Bernardo Silva created seven passes between the lines to Güler alone, while Güler found Mbappé eight times and Bellingham ten times. Pass accuracy in the opponent's half jumped from 77% to nearly 90%.

Mourinho explained the shift after the Clásico: "Having a combination of talents gives us more than two players of similar characteristics. This mix gives us balance to defend and more quality in offensive organisation." The pairing connects all three lines, eliminating the midfield disconnect that plagued Madrid's earlier matches. Bernardo Silva's influence has positively affected Güler's positioning and movement, with the Turkish playmaker dropping deep to create numerical superiority while exploiting spaces left by opposing defences.