Real Madrid came away with a crucial victory at Camp Nou, keeping their hopes of winning the LaLiga title alive. Mourinho’s side, against all odds, handed Flick’s team its second defeat in just five days after a virtually perfect run of form. International media focused above all on the Portuguese coach’s tactical masterclass, while also highlighting Mbappé’s decisive brace.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy): “Mourinho is back”

“It was a feeling. El Clásico turned it into something much more concrete: José Mourinho is back. The Portuguese coach has started making decisions and appears to have found the key to solving a tactical problem in midfield that had kept Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa up at night. Madrid won 2-1 at Camp Nou to reopen the LaLiga title race. They looked unstoppable, but over the course of five days, they showed themselves to be fragile and vulnerable.”

Tuttosport (Italy): “Barça collapses”

“Real Madrid won at Camp Nou and reopened the LaLiga title race. Mbappé’s brace, his 14th goal against the Catalans and his 11th on the road, brought Barcelona down after Raphinha had pulled them level.”

L’Équipe (France): “Madrid’s delight”

“On the eve of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Mbappé had the final say over Lamine Yamal. On Sunday at Camp Nou, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 and ended the winning streak of the league leaders, who had been looking for their 10th consecutive victory to start the season.”

RMC (France): “A statement win”

“José Mourinho’s Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in El Clásico thanks to a brace from Mbappé, who scored his 99th and 100th goals in the white jersey. After Camavinga’s explosive performance, Madrid made a statement and cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table to just three points. Lamine Yamal had little impact on the game.”

Bild (Germany): “Mbappé shocks Barça”

“A crucial Clásico victory for Real Madrid. Los Blancos beat FC Barcelona 2-1 on the road and reignited the LaLiga title race. However, they came close to letting the game slip after taking the lead. Barça took more risks in the second half and were punished by several promising counterattacks that Madrid failed to capitalize on. When the Catalans equalized from a short corner, Madrid had to withstand a sustained period of pressure from the home side. However, a brilliant pass from Bellingham eventually set up Mbappé’s winning goal, with Camavinga providing the assist.”

Kicker (Germany): “Madrid wins at the last minute”

“El Clásico has a winner, and it is not Barcelona. Real Madrid prevailed thanks to a brace from Mbappé, who nevertheless had his teammates to thank for part of the credit. This was the Catalans’ first defeat of the season.”

BBC (United Kingdom): “Mourinho keeps Clásico Midas touch”

“The Real Madrid manager celebrated Kylian Mbappe’s late winner at Barcelona on Sunday with a trademark knee slide, as he maintained his midas touch over their bitter rivals.”

The Athletic (United States): “Was it a Mourinho masterclass?”

“Real Madrid ripped up the form book as Kylian Mbappe’s double secured victory over Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season.

“Barca’s big hope for [the Ballon d’Or] remains Lamine Yamal, although the 19-year-old was not as influential as he would have liked tonight.

“Madrid will feel that Mourinho’s setup worked well, especially as Barca’s previously free-flowing attack was mostly neutralised. Any fears that the Bernabeu outfit could be completely overwhelmed, and all but out of the title race already, proved unfounded.”

The Times (United Kingdom): “The sheriff who has cleaned up the mess”

“Jose Mourinho and Kylian Mbappé bring magic as Real Madrid beat Barcelona. France striker scores twice to cut gap to three points at top of La Liga and leaves last season’s title surrender a distant memory.”

A Bola (Portugal): “Tactical lesson from Mourinho at the Camp Nou”

“Mourinho’s tactical strategy was brilliant. The Portuguese coach, in a show of bravery, opted for a clearly attacking lineup, with the surprising presence of Bernardo Silva alongside Arda Güler, two creative players tasked with giving the play purpose. Between sitting back to seek an isolated counterattack or taking risks to seize the initiative, Mourinho chose the latter. Barcelona did not expect such audacity and were outplayed in many aspects of the game. If he were a bullfighter, he would have been carried out on the shoulders.”

Olé (Argentina): “Mbappé d’Or”

“Spain turned white. Real Madrid took charge of the Clásico. Barça’s No. 10 was the great disappointment of the match. Mourinho, the old fox of European football, convinced his players they could win on enemy territory.”

Uol Sport (Brazil): “Madrid dominate LaLiga”

“With Mbappé’s 100th goal, Real Madrid beat Barcelona… Real Madrid left the Camp Nou with more than just a victory in the season’s first Clásico. Against a Barcelona that had dominated LaLiga, José Mourinho’s team showed maturity, played on equal terms and did not falter under the pressure of the home side."

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