Mbappe's double sinks Barcelona as Mourinho goes six Clasicos unbeaten

Jose Mourinho has done it again. The Real Madrid manager celebrated Kylian Mbappe’s late winner at Barcelona on Sunday with a trademark knee slide, and in the process matched a feat no Madrid boss has managed in four decades.

Mbappe’s double in a 2-1 win ended Barcelona’s nine-game unbeaten domestic run and dragged the title race back to life. Had Madrid lost, Barca would have opened a commanding nine-point cushion. Instead, Mourinho’s side now sit just three points behind their rivals at the top of La Liga.

It was also only a second victory in eight meetings with Barcelona for Madrid, and it handed the reigning champions a painful first home Clasico defeat of the campaign.

Six in a row, at last

The win makes Mourinho only the third Real Madrid manager to go six consecutive El Clasicos without a loss — joining Miguel Munoz (1962 to 1965) and Vicente del Bosque (2001 to 2003). His record across those six games: four wins and two draws. The Portuguese has now won six and lost six El Clasicos in his career.

“In my view, Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou, Real Madrid play to win La Liga,” Mourinho said after the match. “We could win with luck, but we won with calmness and with all merit. The credit goes to the players. When you win, the credit goes to the players. But when you lose, the blame falls on you.”

He was careful not to let the group get carried away. “We’ve beaten several teams by four or more goals, but this is Barca, and the players put on a great performance. We need to continue like this and don’t go over the moon after this win.”

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick made no excuses but admitted his squad was running on empty. “We missed the freshness,” he said. “In big games, small things are important and they decide the games, and today, it wasn’t on our side.” Madrid have now won five consecutive games in all competitions.