Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Mbappe and Bellingham shine as Los Blancos take first El Clasico

After losing four El Clasicos last season, Real Madrid take the first one of this campaign, after beating Barcelona 2-1.

Kylian Mbappe got the early opener, after his earlier strike was ruled out for offside. Barcelona restored parity through Fermin Lopez, and Jude Bellingham scored the winner for Los Blancos.

Real began to take control before the opener. In the 22nd minute, Jude Bellingham released a perfectly timed through-pass that sent Kylian Mbappé in behind Barcelona’s high line.

Mbappé timed his run better than he did for her goal in the second minute, which was ruled out, kept his composure and finished low past Wojciech Szczęsny to make it 1-0. 

Barcelona fought their way back into the game. In the 38th minute, Marcus Rashford cut the back back  from the left half space into the box and Fermín López arrived to steer a close-range finish beyond Thibaut Courtois, levelling the scores. 

The equaliser gave Barça a real lift and briefly looked like it might swing momentum their way.  But Real struck again before the break. In the 43rd minute a looping cross from Vinícius Júnior was headed back across goal by Éder Militão and Jude Bellingham reacted first to tap in from close range.

The second half had its own turning points. Early on, after a VAR review that flagged a handball by Eric García in the box, Real were awarded a penalty. Kylian Mbappé stepped up but saw his spot-kick kept out by Szczęsny. Despite that reprieve, Barcelona couldn’t find a second equaliser.

Tempers boiled over in stoppage time. Pedri was shown a second yellow (90+8′) for a late tackle, reducing Barça to ten men and provoking a brief confrontation before the final whistle. Madrid held on through a tense finish and are now five points clear in LALIGA.