In the pulsating affair that was just as billed in the legendary rivalry, Real Madrid emerged the narrow winner, 2-1, over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening. The victory, which was lightened by the outstanding performances of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, not only ended a four-match losing streak of Madrid against their arch-rivals but also cemented their unbeatable status at the top of La Liga.

Having the game be as dramatic, controversial, and filled with pure footballing spectacle as it was, the El Clásico of 2025-26 will be remembered more as the game filled with fireworks on the field than the tensions floating around the field towards the final whistle.

The game, which was watched by a rowdy crowd of 78,107, started in the floodlights, and both teams were determined to establish dominance within the first few minutes. Undefeated in 12 of their 13 matches this season, Real Madrid came into the fray as minor favourites with their scintillating start to the season.

Barcelo, in his turn, came to the match with new energy, having won several convincing matches in a row but surrounded by the recent failures, such as a humiliating 4-1 loss to Sevilla and a close defeat in the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain.

A Tense Opening and VAR Drama

Even at the very beginning, the game sizzled with temperature. The first 15 minutes were an arduous mess of chaos, with the two defining Video Assistant Referee (VAR) interventions having created a shift in the tide in surprising directions.

First, a penalty against Real Madrid – after Vinicius Junior seemed clipped in the box – had been reversed after a review, which left Real Madrid home fans in an uproar. In a few seconds, one of the goals was disallowed against Madrid, and offside was called, which contributed to the aggravation.

However, Real Madrid did not get rattled. The breakthrough came in the 22 nd minute, and it was thanks to their star summer acquisition. Jude Bellingham, an English midfield genius, went through the Barcelona midfield and sent a perfect pass to Mbappe.

It was the French superstar, who was on his first appearance in the Clasico since coming to the club from PSG, slotting home with a clinical pass with Wojciech Szczesny. This caused a burst of the Bernabeu, and a momentary illusion of Madrid having taken possession of the story.

Barcelo, nevertheless, has no history of overcoming deficits in this match. The Catalans stood up to the pressure and fought back under the leadership of their young tactician. Fermin Lopez – the academy product who has become a revelation this season – in the box laced on to a loose ball in the box after a quick counter in the 38th minute. This low drive between the goal scored and left the field, which made the game even and gave a new impetus to the team of Hansi Flick. The equaliser was a tribute to the strength of Barcelona, where they were high-pressuring, which induced mistakes in the backline of Madrid.

Magic Seals the Deal of Bellingham

The game turned out to be characterised by the moment at which the first half was going down to its growing death-embers. Bellingham appeared as the hero again in the 43rd minute. The 22-year-old got the ball on the edge of the area, shrugged off a challenge by Frenkie de Jong and then fired a curling shot into the top corner.

Szczesny just clawed thin air as the ball lodged into the net. It was an objective of unadulterated class, which explains the existence of the label of Bellingham as one of the most complete midfielders in Europe. Real Madrid was barely ahead of Barcelona at halftime, 2-1, but there was no comfort.

The second part started with Barcelona on the offensive towards equilibrium, wingers – such as an innovative Lamine Yamal – challenging the Madrid defence. Yamal, the 17-year-old sensation who is already compared to Lionel Messi, was held in check by a determined backline headed by Eder Militao.

Madrid got a golden chance to build on their lead in the 52nd minute when VAR gave them a penalty due to a foul committed on Mbappe. The forward, who appears to be utterly unfazed at 12 yards, moved forward to the position, and his shot was magnificently parried by Szczesny, who threw himself down to his right. The miss was floating as a black cloud over the air, but the determination of Madrid stood.

With the clock running, Barcelona abandoned all caution and threw numbers forward as they sought an equaliser. Raphinha and Gavi were substitutes that brought new legs, but the threat of a counterattack from Madrid was still strong. The ugly part of the game appeared in the last seconds when a Barcelona player, Pedri, received a straight red card after hurling a careless challenge on Bellingham.

The ejection led to a brawl between the players on both benches and an exchange of words between them that worsened the situation. Even the final whistle could not end the acrimony as Vinicius Junior and Yamal engaged each other in an after-match confrontation that necessitated the intervention of officials.

Star Turns and Tactical Battles

The highlight of the evening was the performance of Mbappe, though he had a ball blotted out by the penalty. The 26-year-old made 85% of his passes, provided three opportunities, and was also a constant threat due to his blistering speed. His objective – number five in seven outings since his arrival in Madrid – was an act of declaration in a competition in which assimilation can be rude.

Bellingham, however, was everywhere: A goal and an assist, and tireless to watch, covering all the grass. In the case of Barcelona, composure on the part of Lopez was a silver lining, whilst heroics on the part of Szczesny saved the team from a bigger defeat.

In the tactical approach, Carlo Ancelotti of Madrid chose a narrow 4-3-3, which neutralised the transition of Barcelona’s attacking fluidity. The high line of Flick, a trademark of his Bayern Munich days, was pressure-inducing but eventually left the gaps, which were taken up by Madrid on their quick breaks. The difference was the developing philosophies in the two clubs, Madrid pragmatism, and Barcelona artistry, which was possession-based.

After-match Debrief and Competitiveness Revived

Cooler heads ruled in the tunnel, although the red card and fistfights are bound to make it to the headlines. The diplomat Ancelotti also commended the maturity of his team: “We demonstrated character this evening. It is a victory for the fans who have been waiting too long. Flick complained, however, of the late dismissal: “Football is not about referees, football is about the ball. But to their credit, they merited it.

The repercussions do not conclude with the pitch. The suspension would put Pedro on the sidelines in the upcoming matches, which include a difficult game in the Champions League with Bayern Munich. To Madrid, it is the win, which is their 12th in 13 games of the league, which puts them a solid 5 points ahead after 10 rounds, a safety net that is almost even luxurious in the La Liga ruthless environment.

Title Race Implications to the Title Race in La Liga

This Clásico comes to one of the crossroads. The only blemish Real Madrid has suffered in this season, a 5-2 drubbing by Atletico Madrid in September, is like ancient history now. Having Mbappe napping in with Vinicius and Rodrygo, Ancelotti is launching an attack on all cylinders that is very threatening to the domestic as well as European defences.

As the third in the table following their third drawback in all the contests, Barcelona confronts a characteristic test. The Sevilla debacle has shown weak defensive aspects, and on the one hand, their youth-based team dazzles with offensive strengths, but on the other, there is no permanence. Flick will require reflection; however, the spark provided by Lopez and Yamal indicates that the rebuild is becoming fruitful.

El Clásico has historically made seasons and legacies. The victory of Madrid equalises the record of recent matches – Barcelona had scored in the previous four games, which included the final of the Copa del Rey of the previous season. Since the opponents are already looking forward to the January rematch at Camp Nou, the seeds of this battle make sure that the fire burns even more fiercely.

This masterpiece of Madrid-Barca, in a weekend that also witnessed Manchester City faltering in the Premier League, and NFL shocks on the other side of the pond, reinstates soccer as the world champion. At least, the Bernabeu loyalists are enjoying the fruits, yet in the El Clásico world, the revenge is never that far away. The most beautiful game, the most violent and the most brilliant, continues marching along.