Mourinho praises Real Madrid’s calm Clasico win as Barcelona’s unbeaten run ends

Jose Mourinho said Real Madrid deserved their 2-1 victory over Barcelona after remaining composed under pressure in the second half of the Spanish league Clasico.

Kylian Mbappe scored both of Real Madrid’s goals at Camp Nou, while Raphinha replied for Barcelona. The result moved Real Madrid to within three points of their rivals in the title race.

“It was a great, high-level match between two teams playing to win,” Mourinho said at his post-match news conference. “Our players produced an excellent performance. They were organised and brave against an opponent who presses intensely.”

Real Madrid had chances to extend their lead, including a two-on-one opportunity involving Jude Bellingham and Mbappe. Barcelona responded strongly after the interval, but Mourinho said his players did not allow the pressure to affect them.

“Barcelona reacted well in the second half, but we maintained our calm and did not lose it,” he said. “It was a wonderful victory for the players.”

Mourinho also criticised the performance of Video Assistant Referee technology after an incident in the 60th minute involving Joao Cancelo and Diomande.

“The referee had an excellent match, but VAR was asleep in the 60th minute,” he said. “A decision was made in an important incident that deserved a straight red card for Joao Cancelo because of his challenge on Diomande.”

The Real Madrid manager said the result had significantly changed the shape of the league standings.

“This was a match we could have finished three, six or nine points behind,” Mourinho added. “A nine-point gap is heavy, while six points makes the competition balanced. Three points changes things.”

He rejected the suggestion that Real Madrid had relied on luck or a defensive approach to secure the win.

“We could have won through luck and by defending a lot, but we won calmly and fully deserved it,” he said.

Mourinho praised the strength and unity of his squad, adding that goalkeeper Lunin had not been questioned before the game despite not being selected.

“We have a complete squad. The players work hard and are ready to win,” he said. “No-one asked me about Lunin at the news conference, but I am sure that if he had made mistakes, it would have been the second question. We have the best goalkeeper in the world, yet no player complained before the match because he was not playing. The team is united.”

He described facing Barcelona as Real Madrid’s toughest test of the campaign, given their perfect league record before the match.

“I think it was the hardest match against an opponent who had won all their league games,” Mourinho said. “We have beaten other teams by four goals, but this is Barcelona, and our players delivered a great performance.”

Mourinho also praised Lamine Yamal, saying the Barcelona forward was “a very good, extremely difficult and intelligent player”. He added: “He tried to do everything, and this was Cucurella’s toughest match against a player of that quality.”

The defeat ended Barcelona’s run of nine straight league victories and was their second loss in a row after a 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Real Madrid recorded their first win at Camp Nou since October 2023, when they also won 2-1. The victory took them to 24 points in third place, one behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, while Barcelona remain top on 27 points.