Real Madrid beats Barcelona 2-1 to end league winning streak

Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 on Sunday at Camp Nou, ending the hosts' nine-game winning streak in La Liga. Kylian Mbappe scored both goals for the visitors, bringing his total for the club to 100 across all competitions since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.

The result stopped Barcelona from extending their record. If the Catalan side had won, they would have broken Real Madrid's 1968-69 mark for the best start in the Spanish top flight. Instead, Los Blancos became the first team to beat Barcelona in the league this season. The loss marked the second straight defeat for Hansi Flick's side, following a recent loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Mbappe's performance occurred the day before the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London. The 27-year-old is currently the second-best scorer in La Liga this season. Last season, he won the Golden Boot in both La Liga and the Champions League, and was the top scorer at the World Cup.

The victory shifts the balance of the all-time rivalry. Real Madrid now holds the head-to-head edge with 107 wins against 106 for Barcelona. The win also helps Real Madrid close the gap in the current league standings. After ten matches, Real sits third with 24 points. Barcelona leads with 27 points, while Atletico Madrid sits second with 25 points.

Jose Mourinho's side has won five consecutive matches, including three in La Liga and two in the Champions League. This run follows losses to Real Betis and Atletico Madrid last month. Mourinho returned to Real Madrid after two seasons without trophies for the club. His last league title as a manager came with Chelsea in 2014-15.

The 63-year-old manager emphasized that the win is only part of a larger process. "If we win today but lose at El Sardinero, it counts for nothing, because Madrid isn't playing to win at the Camp Nou," Mourinho said. He added that his team is playing to win the championship.

Mourinho celebrated the result with a knee slide on the pitch. He has previously won three trophies with Real Madrid, including a La Liga title during his first stint. The current campaign is his first season back in Spain, and the squad is now three points behind the league leaders with the majority of the season remaining.