Mbappé sinks Barcelona at Camp Nou to hand Real Madrid the Clásico on the night of his 100th goal

Real Madrid took the first Clásico of the season, beating Barcelona 2-1 at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, 25 October, in the tenth round of LaLiga. Kylian Mbappé scored both goals for the visitors, the second of them his 100th for the club, while Raphinha struck for the hosts.

The defeat was Barcelona’s first in the league this season. Hansi Flick’s side had won all nine of their opening matches and were chasing a tenth straight victory that would have put them nine points clear of their rivals.

A fortunate opener before the break

A cagey, tactical start gave way to a far livelier contest as half-time approached. A flowing move from the visitors ended with a cross from Yan Diomande; Gerard Martín tried to clear, but the ball cannoned off Mbappé and into the net a few minutes before the interval.

Lamine Yamal missed a clear chance to reply almost at once, failing to connect cleanly from close range, and Diomande, through on Joan García, found only the side netting. Barcelona had already lost right-back Xavi Espart to injury on the half-hour, with Alejandro Balde coming on.

Raphinha revives Barça, Mbappé breaks them

The hosts pushed Madrid back after the restart and drew level in the 61st minute. A quickly taken corner caught the visitors out, Pedri worked the ball to Raphinha, and the Brazilian drove a low shot past Andriy Lunin. Lunin, standing in for an unwell Thibaut Courtois, later kept the score level with a fine save from a Gerard Martín header.

In the closing minutes of normal time, Jude Bellingham launched a counter-attack, Arda Güler moved the ball on to substitute Eduardo Camavinga, and the Frenchman went past Pau Cubarsí before squaring for Mbappé to roll the winner into an empty net.

According to Real Madrid, the striker reached 100 goals for the club in his 116th appearance and now has 14 this season.

Mourinho: a fully deserved win

Speaking after the match, coach José Mourinho praised his players but criticised the video assistant referee for not acting on a challenge by João Cancelo on Diomande, which he called a clear red card.

“It was a great match, high-level. The boys played an extraordinary game, very organised, very focused, and with a lot of courage to play out from the back against an opponent that presses a lot.”

Mourinho said his side could have left trailing by three, six or nine points, and that a nine-point gap would have weighed heavily on them. “Real Madrid doesn’t play to win at Camp Nou. Real Madrid plays to win championships,” he added.

Barcelona still on top

Despite the setback, Barcelona remain top of the table on 27 points, two ahead of Atlético de Madrid and three clear of third-placed Real Madrid on 24, according to the official LaLiga standings. The match, refereed by Juan Martínez Munuera, was watched by 62,055 spectators.

Barcelona host Deportivo Alavés on Saturday, while Real Madrid travel to El Sardinero to face Racing Santander on Sunday.