Pedri and Cubarsi React to Barcelona's 1-2 Defeat to Real Madrid

Pedri admitted that Barcelona did not perform at their usual level during the 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the 2026/27 season. He pointed out slow possession and costly mistakes as key reasons behind the defeat.

Speaking right after the match, Pedri reflected on the team's struggles, especially during the first half.

“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.”

He stressed that Barcelona lacked rhythm and made many avoidable errors, 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 also reminded everyone that the league is lengthy, emphasizing the need to look forward despite the disappointment.

“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 Urges Team to Use Defeat as Motivation

Pau Cubarsi, defender for Barcelona, shared Pedri’s feelings about the defeat but urged his teammates to learn and bounce back stronger.

“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.”

The centre-back acknowledged the heavy fixture schedule but refused to let fatigue serve as an excuse for the 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.”

Match Summary

Result: Barcelona 1 - 2 Real Madrid
Event: First El Clasico of the 2026/27 La Liga season
Key Points: Barcelona struggled early on, improved after halftime but conceded a late counter-attack goal
Barcelona's Reaction: Players admitted underperformance and called for improvement moving forward