Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 in a fiery El Clasico to end a four-game losing streak against their rivals and regain control of the La Liga title race with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.
Madrid were in front on Sunday when Kylian Mbappe later missed a penalty, and Bellingham added a second goal before half-time for the hosts at the Santiago Bernabeu, which was decisive.
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As tensions erupted in the Spanish capital, Barca playmaker Pedri was sent off in the final stages for a second yellow card.
Real moved to 27 points, five ahead of Barcelona, who is currently second, in the La Liga standings.
After their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid  in September, Madrid have won nine of their first ten league games, and manager Xabi Alonso’s side showed that they can triumph on big occasions against Barca.
As Hansi Flick’s team scrapped a victory over relegation-battling Girona last weekend, his assistant Marcus Sorg led the way on the touchline.
Lamine Yamal, who started with a groin injury, did not appear fully fit, while Barcelona were without several regular starters, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, among others.
The teenager irked Madrid fans during the week by calling Los Blancos “steal” and “complain,” and receiving a chorus of jeers as he was read out before kickoff.
In the first half, Barcelona had more possession of the ball, but most of it was in sterile possession, and Madrid made the most risky turns.
When Yamal appeared to down Vinicius Junior, the hosts were given an early penalty. After a VAR review, it was canceled because the Brazilian had the beginning of the conversation.
When Mbappe fired home from outside the area, the anger among Madrid fans grew. However, the French superstar’s millimeter offside prevented the goal.
After Bellingham’s outstanding work sent Mbappe through on goal, he did not have to wait long before he could celebrate in earnest.
With a deadly low finish past Wojciech Szczesny, the forward, the division’s top goal scorer, netted his eleventh league goal of the year.
As Madrid came to an end, the goalkeeper saved from Dean Huijsen, but Bellingham and Fede Valverde both made good save save saves.
Vinicius and Bellingham made another stoppage, and Barcelona equalized when the play went against the bar.
In the 38th minute, Arda Guler gave up possession in a dangerous area, and Marcus Rashford, who was playing his first Clasico, crossed for Lopez to level the proceedings.
Five minutes later, Bellingham scored Madrid’s second to give them a much-needed lead.
The England international gleefully headed home after Eder Militao nodded Vinicius’ cross back into his path after scoring his first goal at the Bernabeu since midweek against Juventus.
After Eric Garcia was given a handball, Madrid should have extended their lead at the start of the second half, but Szczesny made a good save to force Mbappe’s penalty.
As Madrid closed ranks and kept the Catalans at a safe distance from their goal, Yamal, frustrated and unable to change the game, fired a long-range shot high over the bar.
Despite Barca needing to score, being able to score Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz, Barca had little to offer the way of attacking reinforcements in the final stages.
After Sorg’s substitution for defender Ronald Araujo against Girona in nine minutes of stoppage time, the centre-back was unable to challenge Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
After Pedri was sent off just before the break, there was a brief scuffle between the bench players from both teams. Vinicius Jr. and Yamal were involved in the altercation after the game was over.
Aurelien Tchouameni, the manager of Real Madrid, stated to the media that his side was pleased with the outcome of sticking to a game plan.
He said, “We have to go on like this; it’s only three points; we need to win,” and we need to move up.
He claimed that Yamal’s comments prior to the game had sparked Madrid’s emergence.
There are no bad intentions, just words, and that’s fine. He claimed that it strengthened our resolve and helped us.
Source: Aljazeera
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