The Portuguese coach had not lost a match at home since February 2002, a trail of 150-match taking stays loaded Trophy with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and now real.
His injury-hit team takes to the field without striker Cristiano Ronaldo, in form striker Karim Benzema, Defender Marcelo and midfielder key suspension Xabi Alonso, well that Argentina before Gonzalo Higuain is a welcome return as a substitute in the second period after back surgery.
Former star Real Ronaldo was honored at the Santiago Bernabeu before the farewell match club fans on the legend of Brazil recent retirement, but Gijon - placed a humble 15 before kick-off - ruined their hopes of a victory of planned routine.
We can get a different result with the same players Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo will play if he and his coach decided to take a risk. Can I run the risk
-José Mourinho
These expectations have increased when Ricardo Carvalho had the ball in the net in the fourth minute, but Defender Portugal veteran was found offside.
Miguel de las Cuevas, formerly the local rival of Real Atletico, scored the only goal with a low shot which left post in the 78th minute as Los Merengues were left to rue a series of missed chances.
Mourinho must decide now to bring back Ronaldo for Champions League quarter-final to go Tuesday, the home to the English club Tottenham, in the hope of the real of a national Crown all - but on eight shots to play after a Barcelona side similarly depleted scraped a victory 1-0 on Villarreal in the end of Saturday game.
"We will have a chance to win against Tottenham Hotspur if we have a solid game and have no problems in attack.". It would be dramatic to draw against them at home, "Mourinho said the real Web site."
"Luck plays a role in this game and our adversary had all this tonight." Our only problem was the lack of creative players. Xabi Alonso will play Tuesday and is the only one who can change our style a bit.
"We can win a different result with the same players Tuesday." Cristiano Ronaldo will play if he and his coach decided to take a risk. The decision to risk it is him and me. Can I risk it. »
Barcelona started the game at Villarreal with best striker Lionel Messi on the bench after missing midweek Argentina friendly due to concerns of injury, while captain Carles Puyol, Xavi, winger Pedro key midfielder was ruled out with veteran French Defender Eric Abidal.
Victor Valdes stand-in skipper kept his side in the game with a few stops in the first half of important, but the match turned when coach Pep Guardiola introduced the Messi for midfielder Seydou Keita seven minutes after the break.
However, the winning goal came from an unlikely source in the 67th minute at the position of central defender Gerard Pique has shown good skills to chest down header Sergio Busquets de Dani Alves corner and volley in the net, despite the suspicion of handball.
Valdes came to the rescue of the Barça to five minutes to play because it was well to block a still taken from midfielder Santi Cazorla.
Barca will return to the Nou Camp on Wednesday for the tie in quarter-finals of the League of Champions at home to top-side Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk.
Lost third place Villarreal after Valencia won 4-2 at Getafe , earlier in the day bouncing back from two successive, as Roberto Soldado all four goals against his former club defeats.
At Madrid led after 12 minutes by Manu del Moral, but Soldado bladed one minute after the break of the pass of Juan Mata.
The attacker was 2-1 on 64 assistance of Jonas and his hat-trick shortly after, Mata is again its supplier in the 77th minute.
Adrian Sardinero scored a late consolation of Getafe, who fell to 14th place, five points above the relegation zone, having won only once in 14 games.