Real Madrid ended Barcelona’s recent dominance in El Clásico with a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, powered by standout performances from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé.
The win marked the first Clásico of the 2025-26 La Liga season and halted Barça’s bid for a fifth consecutive triumph in the historic rivalry, something they’ve only achieved once before.
Although Barcelona benefited from a few early decisions, including a reversed penalty and a disallowed goal for Madrid, they never managed to take the lead.
Bellingham orchestrated the opener with a precise pass that Mbappé converted coolly in the 22nd minute, continuing his remarkable scoring streak with goals in seven straight league matches.
Barcelona responded late in the first half when Marcus Rashford set up Fermín López following a defensive lapse by Arda Guler. But Madrid quickly regained the advantage before the break, with Éder Militão’s header across goal finding Bellingham for a simple finish. That moment made Bellingham the youngest Real Madrid player in the 21st century to both score and assist in an El Clásico, surpassing Vinícius Júnior’s previous record.
The second half saw fewer chances, though Madrid had an opportunity to extend their lead when Eric García conceded a penalty for handball. Wojciech Szczesny denied Mbappé from the spot, keeping Barcelona in the game.
Despite a late effort from Rodrygo and a red card for Pedri, Madrid held firm to secure their ninth consecutive home win in La Liga, a streak they hadn’t matched since 2015 under Carlo Ancelotti. The result also extended their lead at the top of the table to five points.
Mbappé’s goal against Barcelona was his twelfth in all competitions against the Catalan side, making them one of his most frequent victims alongside Montpellier, Lyon, Dijon, Marseille, and Metz. He also became just the third player in the 21st century to score in four consecutive El Clásico matches, joining the ranks of Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bellingham, meanwhile, has now been involved in six goals across eight appearances against Barcelona, more than against any other opponent. On the other side, Fermín López continues to rise in prominence for Barça, with 17 La Liga goals since his debut, ranking fourth among current Barcelona players behind Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres.
