Jose Mourinho has said that bad luck played a part in Real Madrid's 3-1 defeat to Barcelona last night.

Madrid striker Karim Benzema put the home side ahead after 22 seconds, but goals from summer signings Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas, as well as a Marcelo own goal, put Pep Guardiola's side back in front and atop La Liga.

Meanwhile, Mourinho insists that the defeat must not be looked at as a failure.

"The first half was balanced," he said. "The goal in second half was pure luck and nothing more. It is not a matter of talent or a failure.

"Luck plays a part. With the 1-0, we should have gone 2-0 up, which under normal circumstances we would have, because Cristiano [Ronaldo] normally puts the ball inside [the goal]."

While Barcelona now lead the league on head-to-heads, Los Blancos still have a game in hand.