In brief
In a dramatic 2–1 win at Camp Nou, Kylian Mbappé’s late double ended Barcelona’s nine‑game unbeaten run and sealed Real Madrid’s sixth consecutive Clasico in which they have avoided defeat. Mourinho celebrated with his trademark knee‑slide, noting the team's discipline and the importance of winning La Liga rather than just at the opponent’s ground. The victory narrowed the gap to Barcelona and kept Real bidding for the top of La Liga, while Barça’s manager Hansi Flick admitted the squad were not fresh and highlighted the need for recovery. With Madrid now on a five‑match winning streak across all competitions, the question remains whether the Midas touch can carry on through the rest of the season.
Real Madrid edged Barcelona 2–1 on Sunday, with Kylian Mbappé landing a late double that ended Camp Nou’s nine‑game unbeaten run. The win is the sixth consecutive Clasico that La Liga boss Jose Mourinho has avoided defeat in, making him the third Real manager to achieve six straight draws or victories in the fixture.
“It shows that we play to win La Liga, not just at Camp Nou,” Mourinho said after celebrating with a trademark knee‑slide. “The credit goes to the players; the blame falls on us when we lose.” His comments echoed the praise from the players, who highlighted the balance of midfield talent and the relentless pressure applied to Barça.
For Real, the victory narrowed the gap with Barcelona to just three points, keeping them in hot pursuit of the top spot. The result also delivered a psychological blow to the hosts, who saw the defense crumble in the dying minutes while Barcelona missed a chance to cement a 9‑point advantage.
Barcelona’s manager Hansi Flick admitted “we were not fresh after demanding weeks” and acknowledged the importance of small moments in big games. “We must recover and train well to overturn this defeat,” he said.
With Madrid now on a five‑match winning streak across all competitions, a question remains whether the Midas touch can sustain through the rest of La Liga’s heated battle.
