Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 26 October 2025 in the 2025-26 La Liga season.
The win ended Real Madrid’s run of four consecutive defeats (or winless streaks) against Barcelona.
The Times of India
The goals:
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, assisted by Jude Bellingham.
Barcelona equalised through Fermín López in the 38th minute after a mistake by Real Madrid.
Bellingham restored the lead for Real Madrid in the 43rd minute with a close-range finish following a cross from Vinícius Júnior
Real Madrid asserted strong control in the first half — dominating possession and creating more chances.
Barcelona, despite their status and recent success, struggled with consistency and were undone by errors and lapses in concentration.
This was the first time Real Madrid’s manager Xabi Alonso secured a win in an El Clásico
A penalty awarded to Real Madrid in the second half (for a handball) was saved by Barcelona’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Late in the game, Barcelona’s Pedri received a second yellow card and was sent off.
After being substituted, Vinícius Júnior reacted angrily which led to a touchline incident involving players from both sides and police intervention.
Jude Bellingham: Outstanding performance — scored the decisive goal, provided the assist for Mbappé’s opener. “This win is for the fans,” he said.
Kylian Mbappé: Became part of an elite club by scoring in four consecutive El Clásico matches.
The victory lifted Real Madrid five points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
For Barcelona, the loss highlights ongoing issues: injury crisis, defensive vulnerabilities, and failure to capitalise on big-game moments.
For Real Madrid, this win serves as a statement of intent: after previous disappointments in this fixture, they proved capable of beating their biggest rival under pressure.
The result could have psychological knock-on effects: momentum, morale, confidence in high-stakes matches.
What to Watch Next
Will Barcelona bounce back quickly in upcoming fixtures, or will this result deepen their issues?
How will Real Madrid handle the internal dynamics (Vinícius’ substitution incident) and maintain team harmony after the win?
Can Real Madrid build on this edge and sustain the performance across the season?
In future El Clásico matches, can Barcelona adjust their strategy, tighten up defensively and manage big-game nerves?