Pedri and Cubarsi Reflect on Barcelona’s 1-2 Loss to Real Madrid: 'We Didn’t Play Well'
Pedri admitted that Barcelona fell short of their usual form during their 2-1 loss against Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the 2026/27 season. He pointed out slow ball movement and avoidable mistakes as key factors behind the defeat.
The midfielder spoke right after the match, highlighting that the team struggled to impose themselves in the first half but showed some improvement after the break. Still, costly errors allowed Real Madrid to clinch victory on the counter-attack.
"Overall, we didn’t play a great game. In the first half, we weren’t ourselves; there were things we could have done better. In the second half, we equalised and played better, but their second goal came from a counter-attack that we didn’t defend well," Pedri said.
He also mentioned how Barcelona lacked rhythm on the ball and made too many simple mistakes early on, which proved costly against an opponent like Real Madrid.
"We lacked rhythm on the ball. In the first half, we were very slow and made a lot of silly mistakes, and against teams like this, you pay the price. We need to improve to keep going. It’s three points; we wanted to win El Clásico in front of our fans, but it’s a long season," Pedri explained.
Despite the loss, Pedri urged for perspective, reminding that La Liga still has plenty of matches left.
"The league is a long one. It’s a match we all want to win to dedicate it to the fans; it wasn’t to be, and we’re leaving here sad, but we have to focus on the next one. This is a long season, and you don’t win the league here."
Cubarsi Calls on Barcelona to Use Defeat as Motivation
Defender Pau Cubarsi expressed his disappointment but challenged the team to use this setback as a moment to turn things around in their campaign.
"We were a bit disappointed with how the match went. We didn’t rise to the standard the match deserved either. We could have reacted better, and it’s only October – this has only just begun. We need to make this a turning point and go for more," Cubarsi said.
He acknowledged the fatigue from a packed schedule but refused to let that serve as an excuse for the team's performance.
"It’s no excuse, but the fixture list: we’ve played a lot of matches, clocked up a lot of minutes and were tired, but we can’t use that as an excuse. We have to win as many matches as possible, and this is a turning point that must help us be ready when the crucial moments arrive," he added.
Match Summary
- Result: Barcelona 1 - 2 Real Madrid
- Competition: La Liga 2026/27, First El Clasico
- Key Points: Barcelona slow possession in first half, improved after break, but conceded on counter-attack
- Players quoted: Pedri (midfielder), Pau Cubarsi (defender)
