El Clasico: Madrid ends Barcelona's perfect season start with 2-1 upset

Real Madrid walked into Sunday night's match at Camp Nou as underdogs, but they left with three points and a 2-1 victory over Barcelona. The result snapped Barcelona's nine-game winning streak in La Liga and denied the Catalan club a chance to break the record for the best start in Spanish top flight history.

Kylian Mbappe scored both goals for the visitors. His brace brought his total to 14 goals this season and marked his 100th goal for Real Madrid across all competitions since joining the club in 2024. The French forward, 27, enters Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in London as a top contender after leading La Liga and the Champions League in goals last season and winning the World Cup Golden Boot.

For Barcelona, the loss was their second in a row. Hansi Flick's team had fallen to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League just days before this clash. The defeat also handed Real Madrid the all-time El Clasico head-to-head lead, now standing at 107 wins for Madrid and 106 for Barcelona.

Manager Jose Mourinho celebrated the win with his trademark knee slide. In his post-match comments, he framed the victory as a necessary step in a larger campaign. "If we win today but lose at El Sardinero, it counts for nothing, because Madrid isn't playing to win at the Camp Nou," Mourinho said. "They're playing to win the championship."

Mourinho is in his first season back at the club after a 13-year absence. Real Madrid hired him to counter Barcelona's recent dominance after two trophy-less seasons. The Portuguese manager has not won a league title since Chelsea's Premier League crown in 2014-15, but his return to the El Clasico ended with an immediate statement win.

The result helps Real Madrid close the gap in the standings. They sit third in La Liga with 24 points after ten matches. Barcelona leads with 27 points, while Atletico Madrid occupies second place with 25. Real Madrid have won five consecutive matches, including three in the league and two in Europe, following defeats to Real Betis and Atletico Madrid last month.

The victory at Camp Nou silenced the home crowd and renewed optimism for the Bernabeu faithful. For Mbappe, the night offered a dual milestone: extending his personal scoring record and contributing to a win that breaks Barcelona's perfect start to the season.