El Clasico: Real Madrid Beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Bernabeu
Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, October 25, moving five points clear at the top of La Liga. Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham scored in the first half for the hosts, Fermin Lopez pulled one back for Barcelona, Mbappe had a penalty saved, and Pedri was sent off late in a dramatic night in Madrid.
How Real Madrid won El Clasico
Real Madrid took control before half-time. Mbappe opened the scoring and Bellingham added the second, giving the home side a 2-0 lead at the break. Barcelona fought back through Fermin Lopez, who scored to make it 2-1 and set up a tense finish. Mbappe then had a chance to seal the game from the penalty spot, but his penalty was saved, keeping Barcelona alive until the final whistle.
The match turned further in Madrid’s favour when Pedri was shown a red card, leaving Barcelona a man down for the closing stages. Real Madrid held on for a 2-1 win that strengthens their grip on the La Liga title race and extends their lead over their great rivals to five points.
Yamal controversy before kick-off
The build-up to the match was dominated by controversy around Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal. Reports in the Spanish press, including El Nacional, said senior Barcelona players were unhappy with Yamal’s pre-match comments, adding an extra edge to an already heated rivalry. The teenager’s remarks were widely discussed in Spain before the teams even walked out at the Bernabeu.
Yamal’s situation became one of the main talking points of the weekend in Spanish football, with fans and pundits debating whether the young star had added unnecessary pressure on his own team ahead of the biggest game of the season.
What the result means for La Liga
The win puts Real Madrid five points clear of Barcelona in La Liga, a significant early advantage in the title race. For Barcelona, the defeat is a setback, but with much of the season still to play, the gap is far from decisive. El Clasico rarely settles a title on its own, and the return fixture at Camp Nou will now carry even more weight.
For Real Madrid, the victory is also a statement of intent. Beating their fiercest rivals at home, with goals from their two biggest stars, sends a clear message to the rest of Spain that their side — led on the pitch by Mbappe and Bellingham — intend to stay at the top.
Earlier in the tri-series, Shadab Khan set a world record with 113 not out against England and Pakistan’s pink-kit day raised breast cancer awareness.
Source: match reporting from Spanish and international sports coverage of El Clasico, October 25, 2026, and El Nacional’s pre-match reporting.