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Jose Mourinho has earned plaudits after leading Real Madrid to a crucial 2-1 victory over Barcelona, with Kylian Mbappe’s brace ending the hosts’ nine-match unbeaten run in domestic competitions and breathing new life into the La Liga title race.
The victory at the Camp Nou on Sunday has also reinforced Mourinho’s reputation in El Clasico, with the Portuguese manager extending his unbeaten run against Barcelona to six consecutive matches in charge of Real Madrid.
Mourinho celebrated Mbappe’s late winner with his trademark knee slide, a moment that captured the significance of a result that could prove decisive in the title race.
Real Madrid’s victory cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table to three points, denying the reigning champions an opportunity to establish a commanding nine-point advantage.
Reacting after the match, Mourinho insisted that his team had earned the victory through discipline, composure and collective effort rather than luck.
“In my view, Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou, Real Madrid play to win La Liga,” he said.
He added: “We could win with luck, but we won with calmness and with all merit.”
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager credited his players for their performance, praising their mentality and tactical discipline against their fiercest rivals.
Mourinho also highlighted the balance in his midfield, explaining that a combination of different player attributes had strengthened the team defensively while improving its attacking quality.
He, however, cautioned against complacency, insisting that Real Madrid must maintain their momentum rather than become carried away by the victory.
“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,” he said.
For Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, the defeat exposed the physical demands placed on his players following a demanding run of fixtures.
Flick admitted that his side lacked the freshness required to compete effectively in a match decided by fine margins.
“We missed the freshness,” he said, adding that his players needed to recover properly, train well and respond positively to the setback.
The Barcelona manager declined to make excuses for the defeat but acknowledged that small details had proved decisive.
“In big games, small things are important and they decide the games and today, it wasn’t on our side,” he said.
The result represents a significant setback for Barcelona, whose unbeaten domestic run has ended at a critical stage of the season.
For Real Madrid, however, the victory provides renewed belief in their title challenge, with Mourinho’s side now just three points behind their rivals.
Mourinho has won six and lost six of his 12 El Clasico matches as Real Madrid manager across his two spells in charge, but his latest triumph has strengthened his standing ahead of the decisive weeks of the campaign.
With the gap at the summit reduced, the pressure is now firmly on Barcelona to respond, while Real Madrid have an opportunity to turn Sunday’s statement victory into a sustained challenge for the Spanish title.
