New Delhi, Oct 26: Kylian Mbappe's late strike sealed a dramatic 2-1 Real Madrid win over Barcelona in a pulsating El Clasico night. Mbappe struck in the 87th minute, finishing Eduardo Camavinga's cutback after a moment of brilliance from Jude Bellingham to hand Real a crucial win and heat up the La Liga title race.

Barcelona had fought back through Raphinha's snapshot and pushed hard for a winner, with Lamine Yamal narrowly missing the target as the defending champions searched for a breakthrough. However, Los Blancos held firm before delivering the decisive blow late in the contest. The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations among Real Madrid's players and coaching staff, with Jose Mourinho sliding onto his knees in delight as tensions flared between the Madrid camp and Barcelona supporters.

Interestingly, the 'Special One' became only the third Real Madrid boss to go 6 El Clásicos in a row without defeat- 13 years after he last led the side in this fixture.

Real Madrid's 2-1 Clasico triumph over Barcelona proved crucial in the La Liga title race, with Kylian Mbappe's brace ending the hosts' nine-match unbeaten domestic run. The victory also extended Madrid's unbeaten streak against their fierce rivals to six consecutive matches, featuring four wins and two draws, placing their manager alongside club greats Miguel Muñoz and Vicente del Bosque.

The result marked only Real's second victory in their last eight meetings with Barcelona, making the triumph even more significant. A defeat would have left Madrid trailing by nine points, potentially handing Barcelona a commanding advantage in the title race. Instead, the victory at Camp Nou reduced the deficit to just three points, reigniting the battle for the La Liga crown and increasing the pressure on the reigning champions.

"In my view, Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou; Real Madrid play to win La Liga," he said.

"We could win with luck, but we won with calmness and with all merit," he said. "It's a very strong group. Everyone works very hard. Everyone was ready to win," he added.

Mourinho further insisted that his side's primary objective was to win La Liga rather than focus solely on securing a victory at Camp Nou. He praised his players for their composure, hard work and overall performance, stressing that the 2-1 triumph was fully deserved.

"The credit goes to the players," Mourinho said, acknowledging the pressure managers face when results do not go their way. Having returned to Real Madrid this summer, 13 years after his first spell in charge, the Portuguese coach highlighted the balance and variety in his midfield as key factors behind the team's success. He also urged his players to remain focused and avoid becoming complacent after the crucial win.

Meanwhile, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick admitted his side lacked freshness following a demanding run of fixtures. He insisted there were no excuses for the defeat but acknowledged that small details proved decisive. Flick called on his players to recover well, train effectively and respond strongly in their upcoming matches.

Story first published: Monday, October 26, 2026, 7:57 [IST]

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