Real Madrid came out on top in an enthralling El Clásico showdown, defeating fierce rivals Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. The pivotal victory solidifies Los Blancos’ position at the top of the LaLiga table, opening up a commanding five-point lead over the Catalan side. Having recovered from a humbling 5-2 defeat to city rivals Atlético Madrid, Real carried the momentum of four successive wins in all competitions straight into the opening stages of the showpiece fixture.
The drama began almost immediately. Inside two minutes, the referee pointed to the spot when Lamine Yamal’s intervention appeared to upend Vinícius Júnior, but the decision was quickly overturned following a VAR review. Undeterred, Los Blancos continued to push. A spectacular long-range dipping strike from Kylian Mbappé nestled in the net in the 12th minute, only for the tightest of offsides to deny the Frenchman an early goal. Determined to make amends for a humbling four Clásico defeats last season, Real’s persistence paid off after 22 minutes. Jude Bellingham displayed tight control to create space before slipping in Mbappé, who finished neatly when one-on-one with the keeper, registering his 12th goal in just nine games against Barcelona.
This made it a familiar situation for Barcelona, who have now conceded the opening goal on five occasions in their last 10 league matches, but they responded positively. Fermín López quickly levelled the game, hitting a decisive first-time finish after an uncharacteristic moment where Arda Güler gave away possession deep in his own half. However, parity lasted just five minutes as the hosts wrestled back control. A strong run from Vini Jr. culminated in a looped cross to the back post, where Éder Militão expertly cushioned the ball for Bellingham to tuck home and restore the lead. A breathless first half was capped off when an offside Mbappé turned the ball over the line from a scrappy passage of play, serving as one final talking point before the break.
The drama continued after the restart. Early in the second half, Wojciech Szczęsny guessed correctly to deny Mbappé from the spot after Eric García was judged to have handled in the area. Barcelona’s high defensive line, searching for another equalizer, were almost caught out when another would-be goal was flagged offside, this time as Bellingham tucked in an offside Brahim Díaz’s low ball. Real then expertly managed the tempo, controlling the ball and winding down the clock. The visitors’ best chance to snatch a point went begging late on when poor chest control from Jules Koundé squandered possession. Hansi Flick’s side finished the match reduced to 10 men, thanks to Pedri’s second yellow card in the final seconds of the game.
The result leaves Los Blancos with only one loss this season, marking their ninth straight home league win—their best run in over a decade. The club’s continued dominance at home, combined with the victory over their biggest rivals, ensures Xabi Alonso becomes just the second Real boss in the club’s last eight managerial appointments to avoid losing his first league fixture against Barcelona.
The win secures a vital advantage for Real Madrid in the title race, leaving Barcelona exactly where they started the day: five points adrift.
