Barcelona president didn't have nice words for Real Madrid: "You can't have more than one rooster in the henhouse"

Real Madrid secured a dominant 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig on Wednesday night, extending their unbeaten run in the Champions League to three wins in as many matches. The performance served as a crucial preparatory tune-up for the upcoming El Clásico derby against Barcelona, which is scheduled for Sunday. Manager José Mourinho’s side overcame a sluggish first half to dismantle the German visitors, with Kylian Mbappé, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, and Yan Diomande finding the net for the hosts. This result marks Madrid’s fourth consecutive win across all competitions, providing a significant morale boost before facing their arch-rivals at the Santiago Bernabéu. The match began with the hosts struggling to find rhythm, a pattern that had plagued them earlier in the domestic league season. Leipzig, managed by Martín Demichelis, controlled early possession and created the first significant threat. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced into a spectacular low save to deny Romulo Cardoso, while later denying Christopher Nkunku in a one-on-one situation. Despite efforts from Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, who both tested the Leipzig defense from distance, the teams remained locked at nil-nil through the majority of the first period. The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute following a sequence involving Arda Güler and Mbappé. After a double pass on the right flank, the ball returned to Güler, whose shot was parried by Leipzig goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt. Bernardo Silva capitalized on the rebound, prodding the ball over the line from close range. It was the Portuguese midfielder’s first goal for Real Madrid since joining the club in the summer transfer window. The dynamic shifted dramatically immediately after the break. In the 52nd minute, Bellingham delivered a cross from the left wing toward the far post. Mbappé attempted to head the ball back to the near post, but his effort sailed past Vandevoordt. Güler simply tapped the loose ball into the empty net to double Madrid’s lead. Although the goal was officially credited to Güler, the sources noted the involvement of the French striker in the buildup. Mbappé finally found his own reward in the 83rd minute. Assisted by Yan Diomande, the forward struck a powerful shot from approximately 16 meters out, bending the ball into the net. This goal gave Mbappé a tally of 12 goals in his last 12 appearances for the club, maintaining his perfect scoring record in this season’s Champions League matches. Shortly after, Leipzig reduced the deficit when Tidiam Gomis scored for the visitors. However, the contest was effectively decided in the 87th minute when Diomande received a pass from Rodrygo, identified in some reports as Nrahim Diaz, likely a transcription error for Rodrygo, and hammered a volley into the top corner to seal the 4-1 victory. Post-match interviews highlighted the team’s focus on the upcoming fixture list. Mbappé, who is aiming for the Ballon d’Or award next week, acknowledged the importance of every point in securing a top-eight finish in the league phase. “We know we have to win as many games as possible,” he stated. “I’m doing well, but I think I can do more.” Mourinho addressed the media regarding the impending clash with Barcelona. He noted that his team would lose 24 hours of rest compared to their opponents, who played on Tuesday. “For a Clásico, confidence does not exist,” Mourinho said. “It is one more league game, but it is not a game like the others.” The tactical setup saw Mourinho fielding Vinícius Júnior on the left flank, despite the Brazilian serving a four-match suspension in La Liga. The manager also rotated his midfield, introducing Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga, while placing Federico Valverde at right-back, a position he occupied in Sunday’s victory over Sevilla. Diomande, a former Leipzig winger, started on the bench but came off the substitute bench to provide the assist for Mbappé’s goal and score the final goal himself. Contextualizing the result, Real Madrid enters the weekend with a perfect record in the European competition, contrasting sharply with Barcelona’s recent form. The Catalan side suffered their first defeat of the season on Tuesday, falling to Paris Saint-Germain. This loss has shaken Barcelona slightly, a situation Mourinho believes plays into his hands. In the domestic league, Madrid trails Barcelona by six points after nine rounds. A defeat in Sunday’s Clásico could severely damage Madrid’s title aspirations and potentially destabilize Mourinho’s position, given the team’s lack of major trophies in the previous two seasons. Barça president Joan Laporta recently engaged in a media dispute with his counterparts in Madrid, criticizing the relationship between the clubs in an interview with L’Équipe. He remarked that one cannot have more than one rooster in the henhouse, reflecting the ongoing tension between the two institutions. Meanwhile, Madrid’s squad used the latter stages of the Leipzig match to manage energy levels, ensuring key players were fresh for the high-intensity derby. The team’s ability to overcome a slow start and produce a high-quality second-half performance offers a positive template for the challenges ahead in both domestic and European competitions.