Madrid snaps Barca run with 2-1 win

Kylian Mbappe scored twice on Sunday night to give Real Madrid a 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou. The French forward’s goals brought his season total to 14 and marked his 100th goal for the club across all competitions since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024. The win ended Barcelona’s nine-game winning streak in the Spanish top flight and marked the first time Los Blancos have beaten the Catalan side in the league this season.

Manager Jose Mourinho’s team entered the match as underdogs after recent setbacks, including losses to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Betis and Atletico Madrid in the league last month. However, the result extended Real Madrid’s winning streak to five consecutive matches. The victory also shifted the all-time head-to-head record, giving Real Madrid 107 wins against Barcelona’s 106 in their historic rivalry.

Barcelona had a chance to break Real Madrid’s record for the best start in La Liga history, a benchmark set by the 1968-69 team. The defeat prevented that milestone and represented a second straight loss for Hansi Flick’s squad. Real Madrid’s performance suggests stability is returning to the club, which had been shaken by early-season struggles. The team is now third in the league standings with 24 points after ten matches, sitting three points behind Barcelona.

Atlético Madrid holds the second position with 25 points. The gap between the top three teams remains narrow with just over a quarter of the season completed. Mbappe’s performance places him among the favorites for the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded at a ceremony in London on Monday. The 27-year-old finished last season as the top scorer in La Liga and the Champions League and won the Golden Boot at the World Cup.

Mourinho, who has not won a league title since leading Chelsea to the Premier League crown in 2014-15, returned to Real Madrid to counter Barcelona’s recent dominance. He had previously led the club to three trophies, including a record-breaking La Liga title, during his first spell. The 63-year-old manager celebrated the final whistle with his signature knee slide.

“If we win today but lose at El Sardinero, it counts for nothing, because Madrid isn’t playing to win at the Camp Nou,” Mourinho said. “They’re playing to win the championship.”

The manager’s comments emphasize his focus on the long-term title race rather than individual match results. The win provides a boost to squad morale after a difficult start to the campaign.