Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou on Sunday to end the league leaders’ perfect start to the season. Kylian Mbappe scored both goals for the visitors in a La Liga Clasico that was settled by a late counter-attack.
The win was Real Madrid’s first over Barcelona in La Liga this season, and it cut the gap at the top of the table to three points. Barcelona had won their first nine league games before the defeat.
Mbappe opened the scoring four minutes before half-time. His first goal was a fortunate one, as a clearance from Barcelona defender Gerard Martin cannoned into the net off the French striker’s knee.
Barcelona levelled the score in the second half, but Madrid struck again with three minutes of normal time left. The result leaves the La Liga title race wide open once again.
Mbappe strikes twice
The opening period was cagey, with few clear chances for either side. Real Madrid defended in numbers and looked to hit Barcelona on the break, while the home side tried to press high up the pitch.
The breakthrough came in the 41st minute. Yan Diomande crossed from the left, and Gerard Martin’s soft clearance hit the onrushing Mbappe and bounced into the net. It was a lucky goal, but Madrid had earned their lead with organised defending.
Barcelona had a chance to level before the break, but Lamine Yamal could not convert from close range after a fortunate ricochet in the Madrid box. The home side went into half-time a goal down.
Mbappe’s second goal came in the 87th minute and was a classic counter-attack. A loose touch from Barcelona substitute Gabriel Jesus set Real Madrid away, and Eduardo Camavinga raced clear before cutting the ball back for Mbappe to tap into an empty net.
It was Mbappe’s 14th goal against Barcelona in 11 games. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 20, and Karim Benzema, with 16, have scored more goals against Barcelona this century.
Raphinha replies
Barcelona’s equaliser came in the 61st minute from a set piece. Pedri slipped a reverse pass to Raphinha in space inside the box, and the Brazilian curled the ball past goalkeeper Lunin into the corner.
It was Raphinha’s 13th goal in his first nine La Liga games of the season. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 17 in 2014-15, and Lionel Messi, with 13 in 2012-13, have matched that kind of start in the 21st century.
After the equaliser, Barcelona piled forward in search of a record tenth straight win to start the season. But Madrid stayed calm and organised, and at 1-1 they never lost their shape.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said his team had lacked freshness after a demanding week. The defeat was their second in five days, after they lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
“We lacked freshness,” Flick said after the match. “It’s the first defeat in La Liga, we won nine in a row. Defeats are a part of the game. We have to analyse, we have to make things better.”
Title race opens up
The result leaves Barcelona top of La Liga with 27 points after ten games. Atletico Madrid are second on 25 points, and Real Madrid are third on 24 points.
Real Madrid were without suspended winger Vinicius Junior, but they still won their fifth straight game in all competitions. The win was a big moment for Jose Mourinho, who is back at the helm of Real Madrid and was taking charge of his first Clasico since his first spell at the club ended.
Mourinho was delighted with his team’s display. “My team had an extraordinary game, very organised, good concentration, with courage to play out from the back against a team that presses you a lot,” he told reporters.
“We had chances for the second goal. Obviously Barca had a strong reaction but we were calm and organised and at 1-1 we never lost our tranquility.”
Barcelona had won six of the seven previous Clasicos since Flick arrived, but they were surprisingly subdued against Mourinho’s side. The defeat will test their response, with Alaves due at Camp Nou on Saturday and Aston Villa to come in the Champions League.
For Real Madrid, the win gives them hope that they are on the right track after two trophyless seasons. They turned back to Mourinho to try to stop Barcelona’s dominance, and this result will give them belief that the gap can be closed.
