Mbappe double sinks Barcelona at Camp Nou as Real Madrid win El Clasico 2-1 and close gap to three
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid won 2-1 at Camp Nou, ending Barcelona's nine-match winning start and cutting the La Liga gap to three points.
Real Madrid won the first El Clasico of the 2026-27 La Liga season on Sunday night, beating Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou. Kylian Mbappe scored both goals. Raphinha had equalised for the hosts in the second half, but Mbappe's late winner ended Barcelona's perfect league start. The result also cut Real Madrid's deficit to the leaders to three points after ten rounds.
How the match unfolded
Madrid went ahead in the 41st minute with a scrappy goal. Yan Diomande crossed low from the flank, and Barcelona defender Gerard Martin's clearance struck Mbappe and deflected into the net. Shortly before that, Barcelona had wasted their best chance of the half. Fermin Lopez put Lamine Yamal through, and from close range the teenager shot wide.
Barcelona drew level in the 61st minute. Pedri found Raphinha, whose shot went between Jude Bellingham's legs and into the net. It was the Brazilian's 13th league goal of the season, the most in La Liga. The home side pressed for a winner, but Madrid scored instead in the 87th minute. Substitute Eduardo Camavinga chased a long ball past Pau Cubarsi and drew goalkeeper Joan Garcia off his line. He then squared for Mbappe to roll the ball into an empty net.
Madrid win without Courtois and Vinicius
Jose Mourinho's side were missing two important players. Thibaut Courtois had flu, so Andriy Lunin started in goal, and he made several important saves. Vinicius Junior was suspended. Madrid still defended well and took their chances on the break. The win was their fifth in a row in all competitions.
Mourinho was pleased with the performance. He described his team as "very organised, good concentration" over the 90 minutes. When Mbappe scored the winner, cameras caught the Portuguese coach celebrating on the touchline. Barcelona fans have never forgiven him for his first spell at the Bernabeu, from 2010 to 2013.
Barcelona's record bid ends
Hansi Flick's side had won all nine of their league matches before Sunday, equalling Real Madrid's record start from the 1968-69 season. A tenth win would have given them the record outright. The defeat was also Barcelona's second in a row in all competitions, following a 4-2 Champions League loss at Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the week. Afterwards, Flick admitted his players had looked tired.
Where the La Liga table stands
According to the standings published after matchday 10, Barcelona still lead on 27 points. Atletico Madrid are second on 25 and Real Madrid third on 24, so the top three are separated by just three points. Real Betis (20) and Real Sociedad (19) complete the top five. Sevilla have a game in hand, at home to Osasuna on Monday.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Athletic Club thrashed Getafe 4-0, Real Sociedad beat Levante 2-1 and Celta Vigo drew 0-0 with Real Betis.
The Clasico also mattered off the pitch. Mbappe and Yamal are both expected to be among the leading names at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Monday.
Key takeaways
- Real Madrid won 2-1 at Camp Nou, with Kylian Mbappe scoring in the 41st and 87th minutes.
- Raphinha equalised in the 61st minute with his league-leading 13th goal of the season.
- Barcelona's nine-match winning start ended one win short of a new La Liga record.
- After matchday 10, Barcelona have 27 points, Atletico Madrid 25 and Real Madrid 24.
- Madrid won without Thibaut Courtois (flu) and the suspended Vinicius Junior.
FAQ
Who scored in El Clasico on 25 October 2026? Kylian Mbappe scored twice for Real Madrid, in the 41st and 87th minutes. Raphinha scored Barcelona's goal in the 61st minute.
Are Barcelona still top of La Liga after losing El Clasico? Yes. Barcelona are top with 27 points. Atletico Madrid are two points behind and Real Madrid three points behind.
When is the return Clasico at the Bernabeu? The second league meeting is scheduled for the weekend of 8-9 May 2027, in matchday 35. The exact kick-off time has not yet been confirmed.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press via Yahoo Sports, Reuters via Yahoo Sports, Excelsior, Football Web Pages, LaLiga Expert