BARCELONA: Real Madrid became the first side to beat Barcelona in LaLiga this season, defeating the league leaders 2-1 at Camp Nou with a brace from Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe’s 11th goal in 10 LaLiga matches secured victory for Jose Mourinho in his return to El Clasico 13 years after his first spell at Real Madrid ended.
Real halved the gap to league leaders Barcelona to three points.
“It was the most difficult match, against the highest quality opponent, one that had only won in the league,” Mourinho told reporters. “For us, it’s the victory with the most impressive performance.”
Both sides created a series of half-chances early on, but Real’s forays forward came with far more resolve.
Barca manager Hansi Flick’s frustration on the touchline served as evidence that Mourinho’s game plan was functioning better than his own.
In the 41st minute, Yan Diomande crossed from the left and Gerard Martin’s soft clearance hit the onrushing Mbappe, bouncing off him and into the net.
Barcelona had the chance to level before the break after a fortunate ricochet, but Lamine Yamal couldn’t convert from close range.
It was a set piece that undid Real in the 61st minute, with Pedri’s reverse pass finding Raphinha in space in the box and the Brazilian finishing into the corner.
Real’s swift movement of the ball in their own half continued to expose the Barcelona backline in the early stages of the second half. However, following the goal, the visitors found it increasingly hard to escape Barcelona’s pressing.
Barcelona’s attacks were now finishing with last-ditch blocks from the Real defence, even if Mourinho’s side continued to carry a threat going forward.
That defensive conviction was rewarded with three minutes remaining. A loose touch from Barcelona substitute Gabriel Jesus set Real on the counter-attack, and substitute Eduardo Camavinga had enough pace to get in behind the defence, before squaring the ball for Mbappe to tap into the empty net.
“It’s two defeats and we’re not happy,” Flick told reporters. “We’re disappointed. We lacked freshness.”
The defeat ended Barcelona’s nine-match winning start to the league campaign and came days after a 4-2 Champions League defeat by Paris St Germain.
Flick pointed to a demanding run of travel as a factor behind his side’s drop in energy levels.
“These past few weeks haven’t been easy. You only see the matches, but being on a plane for three hours to Seville, returning to the hotel, then going to Paris; it’s a lot,” he said.
“I don’t want to talk about this when we lose. It’s better when we win, and I won’t accept excuses.”
Barcelona remain top of the standings with 27 points from 10 games, one ahead of Atletico Madrid in second place. Third-place Real Madrid are on 24 points.
Earlier Athletic Club beat Getafe 4-0 and Real Sociedad won 2-1 against Levante. Real Betis remain fourth after drawing 0-0 with Celta Vigo.