Jose Mourinho has warned Real Madrid against becoming complacent after their 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou, insisting the club’s ambitions extend beyond winning the clásico.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice, including an 87th-minute winner, to close the gap to Barcelona to three points. The result also extended Mourinho’s side’s winning run to five matches in all competitions.
But the coach said his players could not afford to lose focus after beating their closest rivals, with a trip to Racing Santander next weekend providing an immediate test of their consistency.
“This is a great win, but when we get back to work, I’m not going to let anyone have their head in the clouds,” Mourinho said after Sunday’s game.
“If we win today and lose at El Sardinero [away at Racing Santander next weekend]… Real Madrid don’t play to win at Camp Nou, but rather to win the league. We have to keep going.”
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 41st minute when Gerard Martin’s attempted clearance rebounded off the forward and into the Barcelona net. Raphinha equalised for the hosts before Madrid struck late on a counterattack, with substitute Eduardo Camavinga setting up Mbappe for the decisive goal.
😘 ¡MUY BUENAS NOCHES, MADRIDISTAS! 😘 https://t.co/bE9Ig3g0P9
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 26, 2026
Mourinho praised both sides for their performance and said his players had shown the organisation and courage needed to beat a strong opponent.
“I think it was a great game,” he said. “A game at a high level, a game which the world that loves football stopped to see, and they weren’t let down… In our case, the boys played an extraordinary game, well organised, focused, with a lot of courage.
“For me it’s a great victory for the boys, against a great opponent. The boys deserve it.”
Madrid also had to cope without Thibaut Courtois, who missed the match because of flu. Andriy Lunin stepped in for the Belgian goalkeeper, but Mourinho said the absence had not unsettled the squad.
“The only thing I said to Lunin before the game was: you train to play, not to be on the bench,” he said.
“We have the best keeper in the world, but today we weren’t crying before the game because Thibaut couldn’t play. The group is strong.”
Mourinho also confirmed that captain Federico Valverde had suffered an injury early in the match but chose to continue for more than 40 minutes.
“Valverde played injured for over 40 minutes,” he said. “He got injured, he wanted to carry on. He wanted to go to the limit. He gave everything on the field.”
