Mbappé double gives Madrid 2-1 El Clásico win and narrows La Liga gap

Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Camp Nou on Sunday, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice to end the hosts’ nine-match unbeaten run in domestic competition and move Madrid to within three points of their rivals at the top of La Liga, the BBC reports.

The result denied Barcelona the chance to open up a nine-point lead. It also marked a notable return to the fixture for José Mourinho, who came back to manage Madrid this summer, 13 years after his previous spell in charge.

Mourinho has now gone six consecutive El Clásicos without defeat as Madrid manager, with four wins and two draws across his two spells. The BBC says that makes him the third Madrid manager to reach that run, after Miguel Muñoz and Vicente del Bosque. Overall, he has six wins and six defeats against Barcelona.

Mourinho said Madrid’s aim was not simply to win at the Camp Nou but to win La Liga. He praised his players’ performance and urged them not to overreact to the victory. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said his side lacked freshness after a demanding few weeks and needed to respond to the defeat.

Madrid have now won five consecutive matches in all competitions, according to the BBC. The victory tightens the title race, but Barcelona remain ahead by three points.