Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho celebrated with his trademark knee slide as Kylian Mbappe struck a late winner to secure a crucial 2-1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Mbappe scored twice to bring an end to Barcelona's nine-game domestic unbeaten streak, while simultaneously sealing a fifth consecutive win across all competitions for Los Blancos.
The high-stakes triumph completely reshuffled the La Liga summit. While a defeat would have allowed Barcelona to pull away with a dominant nine-point cushion, the win dragged Mourinho's side back into contention, closing the gap behind their rivals to just three points. The result also established Mourinho as only the third manager in Real Madrid history to oversee six consecutive Clasicos without a loss (four wins, two draws), matching the milestones set by Miguel Munoz between 1962 and 1965 and Vicente del Bosque from 2001 to 2003. Mourinho, who returned to the helm this summer 13 years after his original stint, now holds an overall Clasico record of six wins and six defeats.
Following the final whistle, Mourinho made it clear that the squad is focused on the ultimate prize rather than an isolated victory. "In my view, Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou, Real Madrid play to win La Liga," he said. The manager praised his group's composure, hard work, and balanced midfield on both sides of the ball, while passing all credit to his squad. He noted that while coaches face the sack when losing, players deserve the accolades in victory, adding: "We need to continue like this and don't go over the moon after this win."
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick offered no excuses for the setback, though he conceded his squad lacked fresh legs following a demanding run of weeks. Flick noted that small margins dictate major fixtures, stressing the importance of recuperation moving forward. "It's not easy for our players. We have to recover well, train well and we have to respond from this defeat," Flick said, as both sides prepare for the next chapter in an increasingly tight title race.