Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid secured a 2-1 Clasico victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday, cutting the gap to the La Liga leaders to three points.
The French forward opened the scoring before half-time and struck again late in the second half after Raphinha had drawn Barcelona level, handing the defending champions their first domestic defeat of the season.
Real Madrid remain third in the standings, behind Atletico Madrid and Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, who had won their opening nine games before suffering a difficult week.
The defeat marked Barcelona’s second consecutive loss following their Champions League setback against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Despite winning six of the previous seven Clasicos since Flick’s arrival, Barcelona struggled to impose themselves against Mourinho’s side.
“In general, we didn’t have a great game; in the first half we weren’t ourselves, there were a lot of things we could have done better,” Barcelona midfielder Pedri told DAZN.
“We wanted to win the Clasico in front of our fans, but the season is very long… a league is not won here.”
Real Madrid, who were without suspended winger Vinicius Junior, secured their fifth consecutive victory across all competitions as they continued to find their rhythm under Portuguese coach Mourinho.
After two trophyless seasons, Madrid turned to the experienced manager in a bid to end Barcelona’s dominance, and Sunday’s result offered encouragement that the team was moving in the right direction.
The opening exchanges were cagey, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities.
Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi twice intervened to deny Mbappe, while Madrid’s Marc Cucurella repeatedly grabbed at Lamine Yamal’s shirt as the teenage winger attempted to make an impact.
Anthony Gordon, making his Clasico debut following his move from Newcastle to Barcelona, backheeled the ball to Raphinha, whose effort narrowly missed the target as the hosts threatened.
Barcelona suffered an early setback when young defender Xavi Espart picked up an injury and was replaced by Alejandro Balde before the half-hour mark.
Andriy Lunin, who started in goal for Madrid after Thibaut Courtois withdrew from the squad with flu, made a near-post save to deny Gordon before the visitors took the lead.
Mbappe opened the scoring with his 10th league goal of the season after Barcelona’s Gerard Martin inadvertently cleared a cross into the path of the Frenchman, who deflected the ball into the net.
Barcelona nearly responded immediately, but Yamal squandered a golden opportunity, miscuing his effort and firing wide when well placed to equalise.
The game subsequently opened up, with Yan Diomande coming close to doubling Madrid’s advantage before half-time, only to strike the side netting.
Mbappe delivers late blow
Martin made amends early in the second half by holding off Jude Bellingham, preventing the Madrid midfielder from reaching a free Mbappe.
Raphinha, who had been relatively quiet in the opening period, restored parity for Barcelona shortly after the hour mark.
Pedri supplied the Brazilian, who fired through Bellingham’s legs to beat Lunin and register his 13th league goal of the campaign.
Lunin later produced an excellent save to deny Martin from a corner as Barcelona began to build momentum.
Yamal curled an effort wide with the Madrid goalkeeper at full stretch, while substitute Frenkie de Jong saw his shot blocked by Dean Huijsen.
However, Madrid delivered the decisive blow late in the match after substitute Gabriel Jesus lost possession, allowing the visitors to launch a swift counterattack.
Eduardo Camavinga beat Cubarsi before cutting the ball back unselfishly for Mbappe, who calmly slotted home his second goal of the night into an unguarded net after Joan Garcia had come off his line.
The goal sealed a crucial victory for Madrid, strengthening their title ambitions while leaving Barcelona to reflect on a second consecutive defeat.
