Camavinga's Late Assist Narrows Real Madrid's Lead to Three Points

Real Madrid trailed Barcelona by three points in LaLiga after Sunday's 2-1 victory at Camp Nou, a result that halted Barcelona's 19-game home winning streak in the league. The final scoreline reflects a trend in manager José Mourinho's second stint at the club, where his side has scored in the final ten minutes in all 13 matches this season. Additionally, a substitute has provided a goal or assist in 13 of those 13 games, a statistic that highlights the depth of the squad.

The winning play unfolded in the 80th minute when Eduardo Camavinga replaced Bernardo Silva. Seven minutes later, the France midfielder received a pass from Arda Güler, beat the offside trap, and cut the ball back for Kylian Mbappé to finish. This sequence broke a deadlock that had persisted through much of the second half. It was the first league defeat for Barcelona at their renovated stadium since May 2023.

Mourinho, who is 63 years old, credited his bench for the result. He noted that many coaches struggle to implement changes effectively, but he described his squad as having players capable of starting matches. He specifically pointed to Camavinga, who had performed well against Leipzig but was held in reserve for the Clásico. The tactical instruction was for Aurélien Tchouaméni to hold a defensive position in midfield, allowing Camavinga to make runs into the space behind Barcelona's defensive line.

The victory comes after a period of mixed results and tactical questions. In matches against Espanyol, Rayo Vallecano, and Real Betis, Mourinho used fewer than five substitutions or delayed changes until the final minutes. In the loss to Betis, forward Carlos Espí came on in the 82nd minute and scored a disallowed overhead kick. Against Roma, Madrid came back from a three-goal deficit to win 4-3, with late substitutions providing the momentum.

Mourinho acknowledged the strategic importance of the five-substitution rule in a recent press conference. He admitted that a coach who ignores the input of his staff is limited. He stated that the rule is a crucial element for teams with strong benches. This shift in perspective preceded the recent winning streak, which includes victories over Sevilla and Barcelona.

Real Madrid currently sits three points behind Barcelona at the top of LaLiga. They are also level on points with the leader in the UEFA Champions League league phase. The next fixture is scheduled to continue the campaign's momentum.

The team's recent form includes a 1-1 draw with Espanyol, where Espí scored in the 90th minute, and a 4-3 win over Roma where Endrick and Espí scored. The squad's ability to contribute from the bench has been a defining feature of the season, with 13 substitute contributions in 13 matches.