Mbappe brace gives Mourinho peace of mind as Real Madrid win Clasico

Jose Mourinho said Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou gave his side “peace of mind” after Kylian Mbappe’s brace helped them end the league leaders’ unbeaten start to the LaLiga season on Sunday. The win also moved Madrid within three points of Barcelona at the top of the table, giving Mourinho’s side a significant boost in the title race.

“It gives us peace and it’s deserved,” Mourinho said after Madrid secured their first win over Barcelona this season. Returning to El Clasico 13 years after his first spell at Real Madrid ended, the Portuguese manager saw his side hold off Barcelona’s second-half response before Mbappe struck late on to settle a nervy match. Kylian Mbappe scores the winning goal in the 87th minute. (Photo by Reuters)

Mourinho was pleased with the way Madrid handled Barcelona’s aggressive pressing and kept their composure as the hosts threatened to take control of the game.

“It was a high-level game. I’m sure football fans around the world tuned in and were not disappointed,” he said.

“For us, the lads put in an outstanding performance. They showed great courage to play from the back against an opponent who presses very aggressively. We created some good chances to score.”

Mourinho acknowledged that Barcelona responded strongly after the break but praised his players for refusing to lose their form or composure under pressure.

“Obviously Barcelona responded strongly in the second half, but we stayed calm and organized. We never lost our composure. For me, it was a big win for the boys,” he added.

WHO MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR REAL MADRID?

Madrid’s greater attacking conviction was evident in the opening exchanges, with both sides creating half-chances, but the visitors looked more purposeful when moving. Barcelona struggled to assert themselves consistently, Hansi Flick’s frustration on the touchline reflecting Madrid’s ability to disrupt the hosts’ rhythm.

The breakthrough came in the 41st minute, when Vinicius Junior got involved in a move that led to a pass from the left by Yan Diomand. Barcelona defender Gerard Martin failed to clear the ball cleanly, allowing the onrushing Mbappe to tap in as it bounced off him into the net. Gerard Martin hits Mbappe with the ball, which then seeps into Barcelona’s goal. (Photo by Reuters)

The goal gave Madrid a deserved advantage, although Barcelona had an opportunity to restore parity before half-time. A lucky ricochet brought Lamine Yamal a chance from close range, but the young forward couldn’t convert.

Madrid continued to threaten after the restart, moving the ball quickly in their own half to find ways around Barcelona’s press. However, the home team gradually increased in intensity and began to make life more and more difficult for the visitors.

Barcelona’s response paid off in the 61st minute. Pedri’s back pass found Raphinh in space inside the penalty area and the Brazilian headed into the corner to level the home side. Raphinha scores the equalizer for Barcelona. (Photo by Reuters)

The equalizer changed the pace of the game. Barcelona began to press forward with more urgency, forcing Madrid’s defenders into the final blocks as the visitors struggled to escape the pressure. Flick’s side looked capable of turning the game around for a while.

However, Madrid continued to threaten on the counter-attack. Their defensive discipline prevented Barcelona from finding a second goal, leaving the game very even heading into the closing stages.

The decisive moment came only after three minutes. A loose touch from Barcelona substitute Gabriel Jesus allowed Madrid to launch a counter-attack. Substitute Eduardo Camavinga used his pace to get behind the defense and square the ball to Mbappe, who tapped into the empty net to restore Madrid’s lead.

The goal completed Mbappe’s brace and took his tally to 11 goals in 10 LaLiga games this season. More importantly for Madrid, it ensured they left Camp Nou with all three points after surviving Barcelona’s strongest spell of the match.

WHY BARCELONA LOST THE CLASSIC?

While Mourinho celebrated the victory that cemented Madrid’s position in the title race, Flick could only reflect on a performance that fell short of his expectations.

The Barcelona manager admitted his players lacked their usual freshness, although he felt they did enough in the second half to put themselves in a position to win the game.

“I’m not happy (with the performance). You saw today that we’re not 100 percent fresh. Normally we’re fresher and we can create a little bit more. The second half was good,” Flick said.

He believed Barcelona gained the upper hand after Raphinha’s equaliser, but felt his team made a costly mistake by playing into Madrid’s pressure and allowing the visitors to exploit space on the counter.

“Madrid had two chances to score a goal, but we came back and controlled the game and made it 1-1. I felt that now it was on our side. But in the end we made the same mistake, played under pressure and then directly countered and scored,” he added.

Flick accepted the result, although he expressed disappointment at the way Barcelona conceded the decisive goal.

“We have to accept it, it’s not top for us, but defeat is also part of the game,” he said.

The result leaves Barcelona top of LaLiga with 27 points from 10 games, one point ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid. Madrid are third with 24 points as they cut the gap on their rivals and ended Barcelona’s unbeaten run in the league.

For Mourinho, the victory was more than just the satisfaction of winning one of football’s biggest games. Madrid were tested by Barcelona’s pressure and second-half revival, but they found a way to withstand the pressure and strike when the opportunity presented itself.

That resilience, combined with Mbappe’s finishing, gave Madrid a crucial victory in the title race and the peace their manager felt they deserved.

– The end