Pedri says Barcelona ‘paid the price’ for mistakes in El Clasico defeat

Pedri said Barcelona paid the price for their mistakes after losing 2-1 to Real Madrid in El Clasico at Camp Nou in La Liga.

The Barcelona midfielder expressed his disappointment after a performance in which he felt the Catalan side fell below the required standard, particularly during the first half.

Speaking to DAZN, Pedri said Barcelona improved after the interval and managed to equalise, but were punished for failing to deal properly with the counter-attack that produced Real Madrid’s winning goal.

“We were very slow in the first half and made many silly mistakes,” said the Spain international. “Against teams like these, you pay the price.”

Pedri also said Barcelona lacked the necessary rhythm when moving the ball during the opening period. He acknowledged that the team responded more positively after the break, but said the improvement was not enough to prevent defeat in a match of major importance to the players and supporters.

The midfielder said Barcelona had wanted to win the game and dedicate the victory to their fans, but luck had not been on their side.

Despite the setback, Pedri insisted the result would not decide the outcome of the La Liga title race, with the season still continuing and opportunities to recover remaining.

“The competition is still long,” he said, underlining the need for Barcelona to move on from the defeat and focus on their next match.

The result left Barcelona to reflect on a first-half display they considered below their usual level, while Real Madrid took advantage of the errors that created the decisive moment. For Pedri, improving the team’s performance in the matches ahead will be essential as Barcelona seek to respond to the loss.