Mbappé brace secures El Clásico win for Madrid over Barca

LaLiga

FC Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe scored twice, including an 87th-minute winner, to earn victory for Real Madrid against Barcelona in El Clasico.

Barcelona were aiming to set an outright record for the most consecutive victories at the start of a Spanish top-flight season.

However, Hansi Flick’s side were unable to surpass the mark of nine straight wins set by the Real Madrid team of 1968-69.

Mbappe’s first goal four minutes before half-time was a fortuitous one; home defender Gerard Martin’s attempted clearance of Yan Diomande’s low cross flew in off the France striker past Joan Garcia.

Both teams had created chances beforehand but the game really opened up in the period between Mbappe’s opener and the interval, with Mbappe hitting the post and Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal side-footing wide from close range at the other end.

A Barcelona equaliser arrived 16 minutes into the second half as captain Raphinha collected Pedri’s pass and shot through the legs of Jude Bellingham into the far corner.

Martin almost made amends for his part in Real’s goal shortly afterwards but his header was superbly clawed away one-handed by Andriy Lunin – who was starting in place of first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with the Belgium international ruled out because of illness.

When it seemed as though the points would be shared, some brilliant skill by Bellingham started a move on halfway, substitute Eduardo Camavinga broke forward and squared the ball for Mbappe to finish into an unguarded net.

Visiting manager Jose Mourinho celebrated with a small knee slide by the dugout and a fist pump.

League leaders Barcelona have a two-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid after 10 matches, with Real one point further back in third spot.