Real Madrid secured a dramatic 2‑1 victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday, ending the Catalan side’s perfect start to the La Liga season. Kylian Mbappé, who had already scored twice in the match, netted the winner in the 87th minute after a mistake by Gerard Martín. The win cut the gap between Madrid and league leaders Barça to three points, leaving the title race open as Madrid now sit just one point behind second‑placed Atlético Madrid.
The match began with Madrid as clear underdogs, but the visitors quickly asserted themselves. A well‑worked corner in the 61st minute saw Raphinha level the score for Barça, and the home side pushed for a winner. However, Madrid’s counter‑attack proved decisive. After Gabriel Jesus lost the ball, Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga linked up to set up Mbappé’s second goal. Barcelona’s goalkeeper Andriy Lunin made a fine save from a header by Gerard Martín, while Lamine Yamal’s long‑range effort missed the target. Madrid’s defensive line, with Lunin in goal for the ill Thibaut Courtois, held firm for the final minutes.
José Mourinho praised his side’s performance, saying the team had played a “high‑level” game and that the victory was “a great win for the boys against a great opponent.” He highlighted the tactical choices, including the surprise midfield partnership of Bernardo Silva and Aurélien Tchouaméni, and the impact of his substitutions. Mourinho noted that Madrid had more big chances than Barcelona, with an expected goal advantage of 1.95 to 1.19, and that the team’s organization and counter‑attack threat were key factors.
For Barcelona, the loss followed a defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League and marked the end of their nine‑game winning streak across all competitions. Raphinha, who has scored 13 league goals in 10 matches, found his form but could not prevent the loss. Lamine Yamal, who had a chance to equalize at halftime, failed to deliver a decisive moment. The defeat leaves Barça’s title hopes in jeopardy as they now trail Madrid by three points.
With the result, Real Madrid moves to 24 points from 10 games, one behind Atlético and three behind the leaders. The win gives Mourinho’s side a strong platform to challenge for the title, while Barcelona must regroup quickly to keep their championship aspirations alive. The next fixtures will test both teams as they look to consolidate their positions in the top three of La Liga.