Real Madrid Beat Barcelona 2-1 in El Clásico

Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first El Clásico of the season. Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham scored in the first half, and Fermín López pulled one back for Barcelona. Wojciech Szczesny kept Barça in the tie with a second-half penalty save from Mbappé, and Pedri was sent off late. The match featured VAR interventions that disallowed a Madrid goal and penalty and renewed scrutiny over referee César Soto Grado’s appointment. The win moves Real five points clear atop La Liga, ends their four-game El Clásico losing run, and came amid Barcelona setbacks including injuries to Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha and Hansi Flick’s suspension from the touchline.