Barcelona set the pace as Real Madrid and Mourinho face early-season questions in La Liga

Barcelona have made a perfect start to the La Liga season, winning all seven matches and scoring 31 goals, while Real Madrid have slipped to fourth after a series of uneven performances and costly dropped points.

The leaders have collected 21 points, underlining their attacking strength with a 7-2 victory over Racing Santander their biggest win so far. Their high pressing and tactical consistency have unsettled opponents and left several defences unable to contain a varied Barcelona attack.

Real Madrid, by contrast, have struggled to find the same stability. Their difficulties have been particularly evident away from the Santiago Bernabeu, despite some convincing home victories and a narrow 3-2 win at Elche.

The team have shown a lack of fluency in building attacks, while defensive weaknesses and a shortage of tactical solutions have been exposed by well-organised opponents. A heavy defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby, together with dropped points against Real Betis, has left Real Madrid six points behind Barcelona and raised questions about the current structure under Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho breaks his silence

Mourinho had attempted to remain calm since beginning his second coaching spell at Real Madrid at the start of the season, seeking to shield his players from media pressure.

However, the derby defeat brought a forceful response. In his post-match news conference, the Portuguese manager criticised refereeing decisions and the use of video assistant refereeing, using images and footage to highlight what he considered decisive errors.

Mourinho said his side had suffered clear injustice that directly affected the course and outcome of the match. He also issued strong messages about the Negreira case and other controversial issues, reviving the combative image that has followed him throughout his managerial career.

VAR controversy continues

Refereeing debate has featured prominently during the opening seven rounds, with many arguments focused on VAR decisions.

In the derby, Real Madrid unsuccessfully appealed for two Atletico Madrid players to be sent off during the first half. Other matches involving both Real Madrid and Barcelona, including Barcelona’s game against Sevilla, as well as fixtures involving mid-table teams, have also produced disputed decisions.

At the bottom of the table, the battle to avoid relegation has begun early. Malaga are last with three points from three draws and four defeats. Valencia have four points, while Elche and Levante have five each. Racing Santander, Espanyol and Celta Vigo are all on seven points.

Raphinha leads the scoring charts

Barcelona’s attack has been driven by Raphinha, who has produced hat-tricks and assists during an outstanding scoring run. Lamine Yamal has continued to influence matches with his skills and key passes, while Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon and Gabriel Jesus have added depth and competition in the forward line.

Real Madrid’s attack has been far less consistent. Vinicius Junior has seen his effectiveness and positioning decline, while Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham have alternated between influential individual displays and matches in which they have had little impact. Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler and new arrivals such as Diomande have also struggled to provide a sustained spark.

Raphinha leads the La Liga scoring list with 12 goals. Sergio Camello of Rayo Vallecano, Mbappe and Yamal follow on seven goals each.