Real Madrid secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday, a result that has significantly altered the landscape of the La Liga title race. Kylian Mbappe’s decisive double ended Barcelona’s impressive nine-game unbeaten domestic streak and moved his side within three points of the league leaders. In big games, small things are important and they decide the games and today, it wasn’t on our side. I can see that today we were not fresh and this is what we have to change.
Manager Jose Mourinho celebrated the late winner with his signature knee slide, marking a significant milestone in his return to the fixture.
Having rejoined the club this summer, 13 years after his initial tenure, Mourinho has now extended his unbeaten run in El Clasico encounters to six matches. Mourinho has become just the third Real boss to go six El Clasicos in a row without defeat – 13 years after he last led Los Blancos in this fixture.
This feat places him alongside legendary figures like Miguel Munoz and Vicente del Bosque as one of the few managers to avoid defeat against their bitter rivals over such a sustained period. Four wins and two draws in his past six matches in charge of Real Madrid against Barcelona put him up there with Miguel Munoz (1962 to 1965) and Vicente del Bosque (2001 to 2003) as Real managers who have gone six in a row without defeat against the old enemy. And that’s why we see coaches being sacked from their positions every week.
Reflecting on the match, Mourinho emphasized the strategic focus of his squad. He noted that their objective is to win the league title rather than just targeting success at the Camp Nou. Despite the high pressure of the occasion, he praised his team for their calmness and merit in securing the result.
Mourinho credited his players for the performance, noting that the credit for such victories belongs to the squad, while accountability for losses typically rests with the manager. He expressed satisfaction with the current group, highlighting that the balance between various talents in the midfield provides both defensive stability and attacking quality. With the quality and mindset to play, he said: “I’ve learned that I have an extraordinary group.
Despite the high-profile win, the manager urged caution, stating that the squad must remain grounded rather than getting carried away by a single result. Real Madrid have now secured five consecutive victories across all competitions, reflecting a consistent upward trajectory in their form.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick acknowledged the disappointment of the defeat but refrained from offering excuses. He admitted that his side appeared to lack freshness following an intense period of fixtures. Flick noted that in high-stakes matches, marginal details often determine the outcome, and those factors did not align in Barcelona’s favor on this occasion. The blame falls on you, but when you lose.
Flick added that the team now faces a period of recovery and training to respond effectively to the setback. He emphasized that the lack of energy was evident throughout the performance and identified this as a critical area that requires improvement moving forward.
