Real Madrid maintained a 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, moving the hosts to the top of La Liga.
Barcelona’s Fermín López momentarily leveled the game, but Jude Bellingham’s 43rd-minute goal proved crucial. Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the first half.
Mbappé gave Madrid the lead just before halftime, sending a low, long-range strike past the goalkeeper.
Barcelona tied the game at 1-1 in the 38th minute due to a defensive blunder by Fermín. However, Madrid took the lead shortly before halftime with a tap-in from close range after relentless pressure from Bellingham.
There was more debate and significant events in the second half.
Just after the hour mark, referee César Soto Grado gave Madrid a penalty for an incident in the box, but Wojciech Szczesny made an incredible save to deny Mbappé and keep Barcelona in the game.
Later, Madrid believed they had scored from a Brahim–Bellingham combination, but a VAR check ruled the goal out for offside.
In stoppage time, Barcelona’s Pedri was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for an overrun challenge on Tchouameni, leaving Barcelona to finish the game with ten men.
In the final moments, Rodrygo of Madrid whipped a free kick at goal, but Szczesny equalized it, maintaining Madrid’s narrow lead.
The outcome ended Barcelona’s tenacious resistance at the Bernabéu, and Madrid’s victory ended a four-game losing streak against their Catalan rivals.
