Mourinho keeps Clasico midas touch 13 years on as La Liga heats up
Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice, ending the leaders’ nine-match unbeaten domestic run. The win keeps Madrid in contention for La Liga: a defeat could have left them nine points behind, but they are now three points adrift.
José Mourinho marked his return to the fixture 13 years after his previous spell at Real by becoming the third Madrid manager to go six consecutive El Clásicos without defeat, with four wins and two draws. He praised his players’ balance and composure, while Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said his team lacked freshness after a demanding few weeks; Madrid have now won five games in a row in all competitions.
In short
- Mbappé scored twice as Real won 2-1 at Barcelona.
- The result leaves Madrid three points behind in La Liga.
- Mourinho has gone six straight Clásicos without defeat.
Explained simply
El Clásico is the name for matches between Spain’s two biggest football clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona. They compete in La Liga, Spain’s top division, where results determine the league champion.
José Mourinho is a Portuguese manager who previously coached Real Madrid and has returned to lead the club. Kylian Mbappé is one of Madrid’s key forwards, while Hansi Flick manages Barcelona. The clubs have a long-standing rivalry, and their meetings can have a major effect on the title race.
La Liga is decided over a season of matches, with teams earning points for wins and draws. The gap between Madrid and Barcelona matters because it shapes how much room each side has to recover as the season continues.