According to a report by Madrid Universal on Thursday October 22, 2026, Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois have reacted after Real Madrid secured a convincing 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League, with the duo turning their attention towards Sunday’s crucial El Clasico against Barcelona.

The victory provided a significant confidence boost for the Spanish giants ahead of their meeting with their arch-rivals, with Courtois insisting that Madrid must secure all three points to reduce the gap at the top of La Liga.

“We need to close the gap on them, and that can only be done by winning. We’re going into the match with confidence and hopefully we’ll defend well so we don’t concede,” the Belgian goalkeeper said.

Courtois played an important role in Madrid’s victory over Leipzig, making two crucial saves in the first half while the score remained goalless.

The goalkeeper explained that those interventions were vital in preventing the German side from taking the lead and changing the course of the encounter.

He also praised the team’s improvement after the break, revealing that the coaching staff had demanded greater defensive intensity at half-time.

Madrid responded positively and eventually secured a comfortable victory, although Courtois believes defensive discipline will be particularly important against Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Mbappe offered words of encouragement to Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian endured a frustrating evening against Leipzig.

Vinicius was substituted in the 70th minute and appeared disappointed as he walked towards the bench. However, Mbappe insisted that his teammate should remain confident and proud of his abilities.

“It’s fine that Vinícius is feeling down because he wants to give so much to the team and the fans. He needs to stay calm and be proud of who he is. He’s a great player with immense quality,” the French forward said.

Mbappe also admitted that he believes he can improve further despite Madrid’s impressive result, emphasising his determination to maintain high standards.

The forward explained that the team had concentrated entirely on the Leipzig encounter before turning its attention to Barcelona.

With the European assignment completed, Madrid can now focus on the first El Clasico of the season, a fixture that could have important implications for the La Liga title race.

The defending champions will hope their victory over Leipzig provides the momentum needed to overcome Barcelona, while Mbappe, Vinicius and Courtois are expected to play important roles.

For Madrid, the objective is clear: deliver a disciplined performance, secure a crucial victory and begin closing the gap on their rivals at the top of the table.