Real Madrid Edge Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico 2026 as Mourinho Slides
Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday, ending the hosts’ perfect start to the La Liga season and throwing the Spanish title race wide open. Football followers and La Liga title contenders watched the gap at the top of the table shrink to three points following a late winner from Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe’s Late Strike Denies Barcelona Historic Opening Record
Kylian Mbappe scored his second goal of the match in the 87th minute to seal the win for Real Madrid. Jude Bellingham produced a piece of skill before Eduardo Camavinga darted past Pau Cubarsi and squared the ball to Mbappe, who converted from close range. The decisive goal prompted Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to drop to his knees and slide across the turf, mirroring his famous celebration at the same venue in 2010 when his Inter Milan team eliminated Barcelona from the Champions League.
Mbappe had earlier opened the scoring in the 41st minute before Raphinha equalised for Barcelona in the 61st minute. Barcelona had won all nine of their opening La Liga fixtures entering the fixture, matching a record established by Real Madrid in the 1968/69 season. A tenth straight win would have made Hansi Flick’s squad the first in Spanish top-flight history to begin a campaign with ten consecutive league victories.
The defeat marked Barcelona’s second consecutive loss across all competitions, following a 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. Despite their attacking record, Barcelona showed defensive gaps when Real Madrid transitioned quickly, failing to secure reinforcement in the summer transfer window.
Barcelona remain top of the La Liga standings, but Atletico Madrid now sit second with 25 points, while Real Madrid occupy third place with 24 points.
