Mbappe double decides El Clasico for Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe's double gave Real Madrid a 2-1 win at Spotify Camp Nou. The Barcelona vs Real Madrid fixture was settled in the 87th minute. Mbappe finished from Eduardo Camavinga's cutback after a piece of skill from Jude Bellingham.
It was Real Madrid's first win in Barcelona in three years. Jose Mourinho, the Real Madrid head coach, went to his knees on the touchline as the ball crossed the line. Staff moved onto the pitch, and Real Madrid players clashed with Barcelona fans during the celebrations.
How the two goals arrived
Mbappe's opener came in the 41st minute and carried an element of chance. Yan Diomande crossed into the box, Gerard Martin swung a clearance, and the ball struck Mbappe and went in. The source describes it as a bizarre goal at the end of a fine team move from the visitors.
Barcelona levelled in the 61st minute. Pedri reversed a pass into Raphinha, whose snapshot beat Lunin. The goalkeeper got a hand to the ball and could not keep the equaliser out.
Real Madrid had been on the defensive after that goal, with Barcelona pushing for a winner. Lamine Yamal went close. The second Real Madrid goal then came from Camavinga's cutback and Bellingham's work in the build-up.
Key moments at Spotify Camp Nou
- 18th minute: Guler stepped in off the right and forced Garcia into a save, moments after Gordon tested Lunin.
- 24th minute: Raphinha put a shot over the bar from 16 yards, then linked with Gordon and bent a low effort just wide.
- 33rd minute: Mbappe scissor-kicked over the bar after a Bellingham tackle and a Guler cross.
- 50th minute: Bellingham broke on the counter to set up a two-on-one against Martin but could not find the pass to Mbappe.
- 66th minute: Lunin clawed away Martin's powerful header from a corner.
- 78th minute: Yamal skipped past a couple of challenges and clipped a shot just wide.
The Cancelo challenge that drew no punishment
In the 57th minute Joao Cancelo put his studs into the calf of Yan Diomande. The Real Madrid winger continued his attack before going to ground. The source reports no retrospective punishment for the Barcelona defender. Raphinha's equaliser came four minutes later.
Real Madrid had stayed with their hosts across the contest rather than sitting deep throughout. Bellingham's tackling and carrying of the ball sat behind several of their better passages, including the move that produced the opener.
What the result does to the LaLiga table
Real Madrid closed to within three points of Barcelona. Atletico Madrid are second, two points behind the leaders. Barcelona are LaLiga's defending champions and remain above both Madrid clubs, with the gap at the top now reduced.
Hansi Flick's side had won 11 games in a row at the start of the season. That run ended with a Champions League defeat at Paris St-Germain. The home loss to Real Madrid follows it and costs Barcelona ground inside the division.
The win ends a three-year wait for Real Madrid at Barcelona. Mourinho and his players left Spotify Camp Nou with three points and a smaller deficit to the team they beat.
The original report is from skysports.com.
