By Salma El-Sakka
Real Madrid handed Barcelona their first La Liga defeat of the season with a 2-1 victory at Camp Nou. Kylian Mbappe scored twice to secure the win, marking his 11th goal in 10 top-flight matches and narrowing the gap at the top of the table to three points.
First Half Breakthrough
The match began with both sides creating several opportunities, though Real Madrid showed more resolve in their attacking play. The deadlock was broken in the 41st minute when Yan Diomande delivered a cross from the left, and a clearance by Gerard Martin deflected off Mbappe and into the net to give the visitors the lead.
Barcelona Fight Back
Barcelona responded in the second half, finding an equalizer in the 61st minute. Following a precise reverse pass from Pedri, Raphinha found space in the box and finished into the corner to level the score. Despite Barcelona's intensified pressing after the equalizer, Real Madrid maintained a constant threat on the counter-attack.
Late Winning Goal
The decisive moment arrived in the final three minutes of the match. A misplaced touch by Barcelona substitute Gabriel Jesus allowed Real Madrid to launch a swift counter-attack. Eduardo Camavinga used his pace to break behind the defense and squared the ball to Mbappe, who tapped it into an empty net to seal the victory.
La Liga Standings
Despite the loss, Barcelona remains at the top of the standings with 27 points from 10 games, one point ahead of Atletico Madrid and three points ahead of Real Madrid. Other notable results included Athletic Club defeating Getafe 4-0 and Real Sociedad winning 2-1 against Levante.
