Real Madrid 1 - 3 FC Barcelona: ‘Luck was the difference’ claims Mourinho

Mourinho appeared to be resigned to accepting that his Real Madrid are second best to a side that continue to play the world’s most attractive football. “Football is a game, and details and luck form part of it,” he said after the match. “Without taking anything away from our opponent, luck was the difference.

“They have won more games than we have, and it is easy to conclude that whoever wins more is the better team because time passes and…we are only left with the numbers.”

The numbers are conclusive. Since the arrival of coach Pep Guardiola, Barcelona have yet to lose to Madrid in the league in seven games and have an overall record of eight wins and three draws to only one loss in all competitions.

The headlines of the Madrid-friendly sports dailies yesterday made no appeals to chance. AS read “The Best Team Won”, while Marca lamented “Barca Again Conquers the Bernabeu”.

Real captain Iker Casillas acknowledged that his team’s psychological need to beat Barcelona may have influenced its failure to react after falling behind.

Perhaps the Spain goalkeeper was best suited to see that although Real came close to scoring twice before uncharacteristic misses by Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona could have inflicted even greater pain if they had shown more ambition in the final stretch of a game it dominated with ease.

To makes matters worse for Real, they could not have asked for a more favourable run of form prior to the game.

The Madrid side were on a 15-match winning streak, tying a team record set in the 1960-61 season, while Barcelona were struggling in away league games.

Then came Karim Benzema’s opener just 21 seconds into the game after Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes’ poor pass.

Despite the worst start imaginable, Barcelona never flustered and seven minutes later Lionel Messi gave the home crowd reason to worry when his shot required a diving parry from Casillas – a warning of what was to come.

Messi set up Alexis Sanchez to score the equalizer on the half-hour mark. Xavi Hernandez put the visitors ahead with a deflected shot off Marcelo in 53rd, and Cesc Fabregas raced in to meet Dani Alves’ cross at the far post to seal the comeback win in the 66th.

“This win for us represents a turning point and a big morale boost,” said Xavi, whose team took the league lead on goal difference, though Real have a game in hand. Mourinho is also surely coming up short of tactics to beat the team that has become the nemesis of his highly successful career.

After enduring a 5-0 rout in the first of the eight Clasico matches he has coached since arriving last summer, Mourinho’s defensive tactics were only enough to get one win against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final as he lost the Champions League semifinals and league race last season.

This campaign, he has sent out his team to attack in the Spanish Supercup final and now in the first of two league meetings, only to come up with the same results.

Guardiola said: “I don’t think this win will sink Madrid’s spirit. T

“They will continue to be our main rival. It goes with the philosophy of this club.”