The key facts

  • Barcelona — Real — 1:2: goals scored by Mbappe (41st and 87th minutes) and Raphinha (61st)
  • Mourinho can match the streak of six unbeaten Clasicos in a row — previously achieved only by Munoz and del Bosque
  • Real were without Courtois due to the flu; Vinicius was suspended

Course of the match

Barcelona lost to Real Madrid 1:2. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 41st minute, Raphinha equalized in the 61st, and in the 87th Mbappe put the Madrid side ahead again. Kun.uz reports.

Lineups and absences

The starting lineups held no surprises: the hosts fielded Havi Espart at right back, the visitors once again used Valverde at right back, and Lunin started in goal. Real's main loss was Courtois, who was out with the flu. The suspended Vinicius Junior did not take part, and, according to the outlet, this arguably helped the team: Diomande, who started, justified the trust early on with dribbling and escaping pressure, while Yamal consistently found his target with passes.

Context of the streaks

The match was Mourinho's first Clasico in charge of Real after a 13-year break — in that time football, the players, and the Portuguese coach himself have all changed. Before the game it was recalled that in his last five official meetings with Barca he had not lost; now he has a chance of a streak of six unbeaten Clasicos in a row, something that among Real's coaches before him only Miguel Munoz and Vicente del Bosque achieved. Mourinho's predecessor Xabi Alonso won his first Clasico, but in the same season lost in the Spanish Super Cup (2:3). Hansi Flick, by contrast, had the chance to set a historic record — winning all of the opening matches of the Spanish championship — but that chance has now been missed.