Jude Bellingham’s goal on Sunday helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to win a tense El Clasico and move five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of Spanish La Liga.
Champions Barcelona won all four times the teams were pitted against each other last season, but in his first El Clasico as Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso snapped that run.
Kylian Mbappe, who later missed a penalty, fired Madrid in front, and although Fermin Lopez leveled for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham netted a second for the hosts before halftime which proved decisive.
Photo: AFP
Barca playmaker Pedri was sent off in the final stages for a second yellow card as tensions spilled over in the Spanish capital.
Madrid’s victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games, and Alonso’s side proved against Barca they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid last month.
“We did what we had to do, the game plan,” Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said. “Against Atletico we didn’t play how we wanted, and today we had another chance to show what we can do, and we have to continue like this.”
Hansi Flick’s Barca were led on the touchline by his assistant Marcus Sorg, as the German coach was suspended following a red card last weekend as they scraped a victory over relegation-battling Girona.
“The season is long, we have 28 more games, and we’re not scared about the situation now,” Sorg said after the defeat.
Barcelona were without several regular starters, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo, while Lamine Yamal still does not appear fully fit after a groin injury, but started.
The teenager wound up Madrid fans in the week by claiming Los Blancos “steal” and “complain,” and his name was greeted with a chorus of jeers when read out before kickoff.
Barcelona had more of the ball in the first half, but it was largely sterile possession, and Madrid created the most dangerous opportunities.
The hosts were awarded an early penalty when Yamal appeared to bring down Vinicius Junior. However, it was canceled after a video assistant referee review as it was the Brazilian who initiated the contact.
Madrid fans’ ire at the officials grew when Mbappe blasted home from outside the area, but the goal was ruled out for a millimetric offside against the French superstar.
Mbappe did not have long to wait before he could celebrate in earnest, after superb work by Bellingham sent him through on goal.
The forward, the division’s top goalscorer, netted his 11th league goal of the campaign with a lethal low finish past Wojciech Szczesny.
The goalkeeper made a good save from Dean Huijsen while Bellingham and Fede Valverde went close as Madrid took control.
Szczesny stopped efforts from Vinicius and Bellingham again, and it was against the run of play when Barcelona equalized.
Arda Guler gave away possession in a dangerous area and Marcus Rashford, playing in his first Clasico, crossed for Lopez to blast the visitors level in the 38th minute.
Bellingham struck Madrid’s second five minutes later to give Los Blancos a deserved advantage at the interval.
The England international, who scored his first goal at the Bernabeu since April in midweek against Juventus, gleefully tapped home after Eder Militao nodded Vinicius’ cross back into his path.
Madrid should have extended their lead at the start of the second half, but Szczesny made a fine save to push out Mbappe’s penalty, after Eric Garcia was penalized for handball.
Yamal, frustrated and struggling to make an impact on the game, sent a long-range shot high over the bar as Madrid closed ranks and kept the Catalans at a safe distance from their goal.
Madrid looked the more threatening in the final stages despite Barca needing to score, able to bring on Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz, while Barca had little in the way of attacking reinforcements.
Sorg sent defender Ronald Araujo up front during nine minutes of stoppage time after he netted the winner as a makeshift striker against Girona, but the centerback could not trouble Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Pedri was sent off in the final seconds for a second yellow card for a late foul on Tchouameni, sparking a brief sideline shoving match, while players from both sides rowed after the final whistle.
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