Real cut the gap at the top to three points and ended Barcelona's nine-game unbeaten domestic run.
Kylian Mbappé scored the winner late in the match as Real Madrid beat LaLiga leaders Barcelona 2-1 at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday. The result ended Barcelona's nine-game unbeaten domestic run and brought Real to within three points of them.
Mbappé's first goal, in the 41st minute, owed something to luck. Real winger Yan Diomande sent a cross into the box, and Barcelona's Gerard Martín got there first but could only hit the ball against Mbappé and into the net. There was fortune in it, but the move had been worked for, not simply found.
Barcelona's Raphinha levelled in the 61st minute. Barcelona midfielder Pedri reversed a pass into him, and his low shot beat Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
The winner came from a moment of skill by Jude Bellingham, who released Eduardo Camavinga. Camavinga sprinted free and pulled the ball back for Mbappé to finish. It was the Frenchman's 10th goal against Barcelona, and the Camp Nou fell quiet.
Real manager José Mourinho celebrated with his trademark knee slide. Thirteen years after he last led Real in this fixture, BBC Sport noted, he became only the third Real boss to go six El Clásicos in a row without defeat. Mourinho was clear about how he saw the result:
"In my view, Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou, Real Madrid play to win La Liga"
Mourinho said: "We could win with luck, but we won with calmness and with all merit." He also said: "The credit goes to the players."
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick did not offer excuses, but admitted his side lacked fresh legs after a demanding few weeks. "We missed the freshness," he said. He added: "I can see that today we were not fresh and this is what we have to change."
It was Barcelona's first league defeat of the season. They stay top on 27 points, two ahead of Atlético Madrid, while Real are third on 24. It was Real's first win at Barcelona in three years.
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