Jose Mourinho celebrated Kylian Mbappe's late winner at Barcelona on Sunday with a trademark knee slide, maintaining his exceptional record against Real Madrid's fiercest rivals. According to BBC Sport, the 2-1 victory ended Barcelona's nine-game unbeaten domestic run and transformed the La Liga title race, bringing Real Madrid to within three points of the leaders.
Mourinho has now achieved a remarkable milestone: six consecutive El Clasicos without defeat, joining only Miguel Munoz (1962 to 1965) and Vicente del Bosque (2001 to 2003) as Real Madrid managers to accomplish this feat. The Portuguese coach, who returned to the club 13 years after his first stint ended, has compiled four wins and two draws across his past six matches against Barcelona. His overall record in the fixture now stands at six wins and six losses.
Mbappe's performance proved decisive in the Camp Nou encounter. According to AFP, his opening goal arrived in the 41st minute when Gerard Martín's attempted clearance ricocheted off the striker into the net. Raphinha equalised in the 61st minute, but Mbappe restored Real's lead in the 87th minute. Real Madrid's official report noted that the winning goal followed a move involving Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler and Eduardo Camavinga, and brought Mbappe to 100 goals for the club.
A defeat would have allowed Barcelona to establish a commanding nine-point advantage, making this result particularly significant for Real Madrid's title ambitions. The victory also marked Real Madrid's first away win against Barcelona in three years, according to Sky Sports.
What did Mourinho say about the performance?
Mourinho emphasised that Real Madrid's primary objective was securing the La Liga title rather than simply winning at the Camp Nou.
In my view, Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou, Real Madrid play to win La Liga,he stated. He credited his players for the manner of victory, noting that while fortune could have played a role, the team ultimately prevailed through composure and merit.
We could win with luck, but we won with calmness and with all merit. It's a very strong group. Everyone works very hard. Everyone was ready to win.Mourinho reflected on the responsibility that comes with managing at the highest level, observing that success belongs to the players while failure falls to the coach.
The credit goes to the players. When you win, the credit goes to the players. But when you lose, the blame falls on you. And that's why we see coaches being sacked from their positions every week.
The manager highlighted the importance of tactical balance in midfield, arguing that a blend of different playing styles provides defensive stability alongside attacking quality.
I've learned that I have an extraordinary group, with the quality and mindset to play. In midfield, having a mix of talents gives us more than just having two players with similar characteristics. This mix of talents gives us balance when defending and quality when we go on the attack.He cautioned against overconfidence despite the impressive victory, reminding his squad to maintain focus and consistency.
We've beaten several teams by four or more goals, but this is Barca, and the players put on a great performance. We need to continue like this and don't go over the moon after this win.
How did Barcelona manager Hansi Flick respond?
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick acknowledged that his team lacked the physical freshness required to compete at the highest level following a demanding period.
We missed the freshness. It's not easy for our players. We have to recover well, train well and we have to respond from this defeat.He recognised that small details often determine outcomes in major matches, and suggested these marginal factors worked against Barcelona on this occasion.
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.Flick stopped short of making excuses but made clear that fatigue played a role in the defeat. The loss came at a significant moment in the title race, particularly given that Barcelona had won six of the seven meetings with Real Madrid since Flick's arrival as manager in June 2024, according to reporting on the fixture.
What does this mean for La Liga?
The result dramatically shifts the complexion of the title race. Real Madrid's three-point deficit is far more manageable than the nine-point gap that would have materialised with a defeat, keeping the club firmly in contention for the championship. The victory demonstrates that Mourinho's side possesses the resilience and quality to compete with Barcelona in high-pressure encounters, even away from home.
Real Madrid have now won five consecutive games in all competitions, building momentum at a crucial stage of the season. The team's ability to perform under pressure at the Camp Nou suggests they possess the mentality required to sustain a title challenge through the remainder of the campaign.
Key Facts
- Mourinho has gone six consecutive El Clasicos without defeat, joining only two other Real Madrid managers in achieving this record
- Mbappe's two goals brought his Real Madrid tally to 100 goals for the club
- The victory was Real Madrid's first away win against Barcelona in three years
- Barcelona's nine-game unbeaten domestic run ended with the defeat at the Camp Nou
- Real Madrid reduced the gap to Barcelona from nine points to three points with this crucial victory
