Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou on Sunday, but José Mourinho made clear the victory means nothing if Real Madrid doesn't win La Liga. "Real Madrid play to win the league, not to win at Camp Nou," he said after the Clásico.
That's the standard for this Madrid team. Beating your rival in their stadium feels good. It doesn't matter if you finish second. Mourinho set expectations high after taking the three points against Barcelona. His focus stays on the title race, not individual results against the traditional enemy.
Madrid picked up a crucial win in their league campaign. But Mourinho's message was direct: the Clásico is a checkpoint, not the destination. The league title is.