Barcelona’s flawless opening run in La Liga came to an abrupt halt when Real Madrid edged them 2‑1 in the Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday. Kylian Mbappé netted twice, with a late 87th‑minute strike, while Raphinha’s equaliser kept the hosts in the hunt, but Madrid’s late surge proved decisive. The defeat snapped Barcelona’s nine‑game league winning streak and brought the two clubs within three points of the top spot.
The match was a study in missed opportunities for the Catalans. Pedri, who played a key role in Barcelona’s early season form, admitted that the team “didn’t play well” and that they were “not ourselves” in the first half. He highlighted the club’s slowness, poor ball retention and defensive lapses, saying that “you pay for those mistakes.” Barcelona’s sluggish start allowed Mbappé to take advantage of a poor clearance from Gerard Martín, giving Madrid an early advantage. Although the hosts fought back after the break, their late push for a winner left gaps behind the defense, which Madrid exploited through Eduardo Camavinga and a second goal from Mbappé, his 100th for the club.
Barcelona’s woes extended beyond the league. The team had also suffered a 4‑2 loss to Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League earlier in the week, marking the first defeats in consecutive matches for the club. Hansi Flick, however, refused to describe the setbacks as a “reality check.” In his post‑game press conference, he acknowledged the fatigue affecting the squad and the impact of injuries to key defenders such as Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé, Eric García and Xavi Espart, who was substituted early in the Clásico. Flick stressed that the defeats would not shake confidence but rather underscored the importance of managing player fitness and defensive depth.
Despite the setback, Barcelona remain top of the table, two points clear of Atlético Madrid and just three ahead of Real Madrid. The loss leaves the club’s nine‑game winning streak in La Liga at an end, but the team’s overall form still keeps them in a strong position. Their next fixture is a home match against Alavés on Saturday, where they will aim to regain momentum and continue their pursuit of the league title.