Mbappe Double Hands Real Madrid El Clasico Win Over Barcelona at Camp Nou

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid came from a goal of parity to beat La Liga leaders Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday. The result trims the gap between the sides to three points and hands Barcelona their first domestic defeat of the season.

Madrid, coached by Jose Mourinho, sit third in the table, behind Atletico Madrid and Hansi Flick's Barcelona. The Catalans had won their first nine league games but have now lost twice in a week, having also been beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Barcelona had taken six of the seven previous Clasicos since Flick arrived, yet they looked unusually subdued against Mourinho's team. Midfielder Pedri admitted as much to DAZN. "In general, we didn't have a great game. In the first half, we weren't ourselves; there were a lot of things we could have done better," he said. He added that "a league is not won here" and stressed that the season is very long.

Madrid were without the suspended Vinicius Junior and also lost goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who withdrew from the squad with flu, so Andriy Lunin started in goal. They still extended their winning run to five games in all competitions and appear to be settling under Mourinho, who returned after two trophyless seasons to challenge Barcelona's dominance.

The first half was cagey. Pau Cubarsi twice reacted smartly to stop Mbappe, while Marc Cucurella repeatedly grabbed the shirt of 19-year-old Lamine Yamal. Anthony Gordon, in his first Clasico since moving from Newcastle, back-heeled to Raphinha, whose shot went narrowly wide. Barcelona then lost defender Xavi Espart to injury before the half-hour mark, with Alejandro Balde coming on.

Madrid struck before the break. Gerard Martin cleared a cross straight to Mbappe, who deflected it into the net for his 10th league goal of the season. Yamal then miscued a good chance to level, and Yan Diomande came close to a second for the visitors, drilling into the side netting.

Barcelona drew level just after the hour. Pedri found Raphinha, La Liga's top scorer with 13 goals, and his shot went through Jude Bellingham's legs and beyond Lunin. Barcelona pressed on, with Lunin making a fine save to deny Martin and stretching to see Yamal bend an effort wide. Substitute Frenkie de Jong had a shot blocked by Dean Huijsen.

The decisive moment came late. Substitute Gabriel Jesus lost possession and Madrid broke quickly. Eduardo Camavinga got past Cubarsi and unselfishly cut the ball back for Mbappe, who tucked it into an empty net after Joan Garcia was drawn out of position, completing his double and securing the win.