Mourinho and Mbappe inspire Real Madrid to Clasico victory over Barcelona

Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou has drawn widespread praise from the international press, with particular attention on Jose Mourinho’s tactical approach and Kylian Mbappe’s decisive contribution.

Mbappe scored both goals as Real Madrid secured a result that has revived the La Liga title race. The victory was their second over Barcelona in five days, reducing the gap to the leaders to three points and ending the Catalan side’s run of victories as they chased a 10th consecutive win at the start of the season.

Praise for Mourinho’s tactical response

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport said the Clasico had revived the idea of Mourinho returning to his best, highlighting his success in solving a midfield problem that had troubled previous Real Madrid managers, including Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.

The newspaper said the result had brought the title race back into focus after Barcelona had appeared almost unbeatable.

Tuttosport focused on Real Madrid’s ability to win at their rivals’ home ground, saying Mbappe’s brace had brought Barcelona down and reopened the battle for the La Liga title. It also noted that the France forward had taken his tally against Barcelona to 14 goals, including 11 away from home.

French publication L’Equipe described Mbappe as the player who had the final say on the eve of the Ballon d’Or ceremony. His goals ended Barcelona’s winning sequence and denied them the chance to maintain their perfect start to the league campaign.

RMC called the result a display of Real Madrid’s authority under Mourinho and said Mbappe had scored his 99th and 100th goals for the club. Eduardo Camavinga was also praised for helping Real Madrid maintain control, while Lamine Yamal was unable to make a significant impact.

Real Madrid praised for handling pressure

German newspaper Bild highlighted the visitors’ ability to withstand periods of Barcelona pressure. It said Real Madrid wasted several promising counter-attacking opportunities in the second half before regaining control after the hosts equalised from a short corner.

According to Bild, a pass from Jude Bellingham created the opening for Mbappe’s winning goal after an intelligent movement from Camavinga, illustrating Real Madrid’s efficiency in exploiting space.

Kicker described Mbappe’s two goals as decisive in Real Madrid’s victory and said the result represented a blow to Barcelona, who suffered their first La Liga defeat of the season.

The BBC highlighted Mourinho’s celebration of the winning goal, when he slid on his knees in front of the supporters. The scene was presented as evidence that the Portuguese manager can still produce memorable moments against his club’s traditional rivals.

The Athletic called Real Madrid’s display a surprise and praised Mourinho’s plan for limiting Barcelona’s attacking threat. It added that Yamal, despite being regarded as one of Barcelona’s biggest hopes, failed to provide the expected influence.

The Times identified Mourinho and Mbappe as the outstanding figures, saying the manager guided Real Madrid to a valuable victory while Mbappe’s goals cut the gap in the table and restored their title hopes.

Portuguese newspaper A Bola praised Mourinho’s decision to field an attacking line-up featuring Bernardo Silva alongside Arda Guler. It said he chose to impose his team’s personality rather than simply defend and wait for counter-attacks, unsettling Barcelona and giving Real Madrid an advantage in several areas.

Ole of Argentina also focused on Mbappe’s performance, saying Real Madrid stamped their authority on the Clasico while Yamal was Barcelona’s main disappointment. It praised Mourinho’s experience and his ability to convince his players they could win at their opponents’ ground.

The listed fixtures show Barcelona against Deportivo Alaves on 31 October 2026, while Real Madrid are scheduled to face Racing Santander in La Liga on 1 November 2026.