Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid: Raphinha 61, Mbappe 41, 87
For all the criticism and snide comments about Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid, both the Portuguese and Florentino Perez can look at this game and feel justified.
Barcelona here threatened to claim a 10-game winning streak, the only team to do so at the start of a La Liga season, but who better to stop them than Mourinho, 13 years after he last stood on the sidelines for this fixture, and at what better time or place to end Madrid’s losing streak against their fiercest rivals?
Kylian Mbappe scored a late winner as Madrid claimed a 2-1 victory at Camp Nou and cut the gap between the two rivals to three points. Having won all nine of their league matches this season with numbers to match the best Barcelona sides in history, Hansi Flick’s side had looked capable of opening up a six-point lead over their rivals, but their first defeat of the campaign left the title race far less comfortable.
Y luego la gente me pregunta por qué soy del Real Madrid…
¡POR ESTO! ¡HALA, MADRID SIEMPRE! https://t.co/OVmbZHCjx3
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 25, 2026
It was Madrid who began with greater urgency and Arda Guler took advantage of a loose pass from Pedri to drive forward and shoot over the bar in the fourth minute. It was an early hint that they were prepared to punish any mistakes.
Mbappe and Guler continued to cause problems as Madrid pressed high and looked to attack quickly. Federico Valverde helped stretch the Barcelona defence with long passes across the pitch, and one of those moves ended with Guler forcing an awkward save from Joan Garcia.
Barcelona struggled to settle into their usual rhythm, but they still found openings. Raphinha fired over after a forward run from Pedri before Anthony Gordon helped create another chance for the Brazilian, whose low effort curled just wide of the post.
Madrid continued to threaten at the other end. Guler delivered a fine cross that Mbappe volleyed over from close range after Alejandro Balde had come on for the injured Xavi Espart.
Barcelona eventually cracked under the pressure four minutes before half-time. Madrid moved the ball from right to left before Yan Diomande raced forward and sent a low cross into the penalty area. Gerard Martin tried to clear it but could only knock it against Mbappe and into the net to give the visitors the lead.
Barcelona had an opportunity to respond before the break, but Lamine Yamal’s excellent swivel and then shot could only crawl past the post on the wrong side.
Flick’s side returned with greater purpose after half-time. Madrid’s defenders were forced to make several important blocks as Raphinha and Pedri looked for a way through. Dean Huijsen also produced a timely challenge to deny Raphinha.
At the other end, Madrid remained dangerous on the counterattack, and they nearly doubled their advantage when Jude Bellingham broke forward alongside Mbappe. He set up to shoot but Martin was there to block.
Barcelona gradually took control of the game and found their equaliser just after the hour mark. Yamal played a short corner to Pedri, who slipped a clever disguised pass into Raphinha’s path. The winger quickly struck hard and low into the far post to bring the champions level.
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👀👀👀🔟👀👀👀
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👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 https://t.co/IAcn4vb1WJ— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 25, 2026
The goal lifted the home crowd and set up a tense final period. Joan Garcia denied Guler but Barcelona seemed the likelier side to score. Andriy Lunin produced an outstanding save to keep things level after Martin came close with a header. Then Huijsen threw himself in the way to block efforts from Frenkie de Jong and Yamal. Madrid were tiring, but they remained resolute.
Then with three minutes remaining, the ever forward-thinking Bellingham turned away from Gabriel Jesus and released Eduardo Camavinga, who sprinted into the penalty area, knocked the ball beyond Pau Cubarsi and pulled back for Mbappe. The forward arrived to finish from close range to restore Madrid’s lead and silence the home crowd. Barcelona could not respond.
