Mbappe brace sinks Barcelona and snaps nine-game winning streak

Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 on Sunday night at Camp Nou to end the visiting team's nine-game winning streak in La Liga.

Kylian Mbappe scored both goals for the visitors, raising his career total for the club to 100 across all competitions. The brace also brought his personal tally for the 2025-26 season to 14 goals. By winning at the home ground of their rivals, Madrid became the first team to beat Barcelona in the league this season. Had the hosts won, they would have surpassed Real Madrid's record for the best start to a top-flight campaign, a mark set in 1968-69.

The result marks the second consecutive defeat for the Barcelona side managed by Hansi Flick. The team fell to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League just days before this fixture. For Real Madrid, the win improved their all-time head-to-head record against Barcelona to 107 wins, edging out the Catalan club's 106 victories.

Mbappe, 27, joined Real Madrid from PSG in 2024. He is currently the second-highest scorer in La Liga this season. The French forward is considered a leading candidate for the Ballon d'Or award, which will be presented at a ceremony in London on Monday. His recent form follows a previous season in which he won the top scorer awards for both La Liga and the Champions League, as well as the Golden Boot at the World Cup.

The victory extends Real Madrid's winning streak to five matches, comprising three league games and two Champions League matches. The team had earlier lost to Real Betis and Atletico Madrid last month. Following the result, Real Madrid sits in third place in the La Liga table with 24 points after ten matches. Barcelona leads the table with 27 points, while Atletico Madrid occupies second place with 25 points.

Jose Mourinho, 63, returned to the manager's job at Real Madrid after two trophyless seasons for the club. He had previously led the team to three trophies, including a record-breaking league title, during his first tenure. The current season is his first back in Spain. Mourinho noted that the team's focus remains on the championship rather than individual results.

"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. "They're playing to win the championship."

The manager celebrated the final whistle with a knee slide on the pitch. The win provides momentum for a squad that has struggled with consistency earlier in the season but is now closing the point gap to the league leaders.