Pedri Reflects on Barcelona's Slow Start and Defensive Lapses in El Clasico Loss
Barcelona midfielder Pedri gave a candid review of his team's display following their 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou. The Spanish playmaker pointed to mistakes in the first half and sluggish ball movement as major reasons behind the loss.
First Half Struggles and Missed Chances
The match marked Barcelona's first domestic loss this season, ending a nine-game winning streak. Despite a second-half comeback sparked by Pedri's assist to Raphinha for the equaliser, a late counter-attack finished by Kylian Mbappe caught the home side off guard.
Barcelona continue to lead La Liga with a three-point advantage over Real Madrid.
Pedri Admits Team Was Too Slow Early On
Speaking after the game to DAZN, Pedri did not shy away from admitting his side's poor start. "Overall, we didn’t have a great match," he said. "In the first half, we weren’t ourselves. There were many things we could have done better." He particularly singled out the slow pace of ball circulation, adding, "We had a lot of silly turnovers, and against a team like Madrid, you pay for those mistakes."
Defensive Mistakes Cost Barcelona Late in the Match
Though Barcelona showed improvement after the break, failing to defend the decisive Madrid counter-attack proved costly. Pedri noted, "We equalised and were playing better, but they scored on a counter-attack that we didn’t defend well. They have quality up front."
Reflecting on the result, he said, "We wanted to win the Clásico in front of our fans. We leave feeling sad, but we have to think about the next one."
Long Season Ahead, Focus Shifts to Upcoming Matches
Pedri reminded fans that the La Liga title race remains a long journey. "This is a long season, and a league title isn’t won here," he concluded.
Barcelona now turn their attention to their next La Liga fixture against Alaves at Spotify Camp Nou.
Upcoming Fixtures
- 31 Oct 2026: Barcelona vs Alaves, 22:00
- 01 Nov 2026: San Sebastian vs Real Madrid, 17:15
