Kylian Mbappé scored twice for Madrid, while Raphinha found the net for Barcelona. The result ended Barcelona’s run of nine consecutive league victories and left them three points behind their rivals.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Pedri admitted the team had struggled to impose themselves in the first half.
“In general, we did not play a great match. In the first half, we were not ourselves. There were many things we could have done better,” he said.
“Then, in the second half, we equalised, and in that transition that we knew they could make, but which we did not defend well, they scored the second goal.”
Pedri said Barcelona had made too many mistakes in possession, allowing Madrid to take advantage of their weaknesses.
“In the first half we were very slow, we lost the ball cheaply, and you pay for those things,” he said. “We have to improve and keep going.”
The midfielder also stressed that the defeat, although painful, would not decide the title race.
“We wanted to win the Clásico in front of our own fans, but this is a long season,” he said. “It is three points; you do not win a league here.”
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was similarly disappointed, particularly with the team’s first-half performance and their lack of freshness after a demanding run of fixtures.
“We have lost twice and we are not happy. We are disappointed,” Flick said. “The first half was not good. In the second, we improved after the 1-1. We lacked freshness.”
Flick acknowledged the quality of the opposition.
“It was clear that we were playing against a very good team, who did very well without the ball,” he said. “We have to analyse the game and improve, and we will do that. It is important to react.”
Asked whether the defeat would create doubts within the squad, Flick rejected the suggestion.
“I do not think this defeat will create doubts in the team. Everyone knows the situation,” he said. “We did not play entirely well today, but in big games the details decide them, and today luck was not on our side.”
Flick also refused to use the team’s travel schedule as an excuse, despite the demands of recent away fixtures.
“I do not accept excuses. I am telling the truth: today we were not fresh, and we have to change that,” he said.
The Barcelona coach wants his players to recover properly before the next run of matches, emphasising sleep, nutrition and preparation.
“I want everyone to be fresh and to make the right decisions about food, sleep and recovery,” he said. “There are three matches before the international break. I want to win every game and every title.”
Pedri’s message was similarly focused on the response rather than the disappointment. Barcelona have time to recover, but their defeat at Madrid has underlined the need for greater speed, sharper possession and better defensive decisions in the biggest matches.