Jude Bellingham’s decisive strike sealed a 2–1 victory for Real Madrid over arch-rivals Barcelona in a fiercely contested El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, extending Los Blancos’ lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
In what was his first El Clasico as Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso ended Barcelona’s recent dominance in the fixture — the Catalan giants had won all four meetings last season — as his side produced a commanding and disciplined performance to reclaim bragging rights in Spanish football’s most heated rivalry.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Madrid midway through the first half after a brilliant assist from Bellingham, firing home his 11th league goal of the season with a precise low finish past Wojciech Szczęsny. However, Barcelona found a way back into the match when Marcus Rashford, making his first Clasico appearance, set up Fermín López to lash home the equalizer in the 38th minute.
Madrid quickly restored their lead before the break, with Bellingham showing his trademark composure to tap in from close range after Eder Militão nodded Vinícius Júnior’s cross into his path. The English midfielder’s goal — his first at the Bernabéu since April — ultimately proved to be the match-winner.
The hosts could have put the game beyond doubt early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty for a handball by Eric García, but Szczęsny denied Mbappé from the spot with a superb save. Despite that miss, Madrid maintained control of the contest, keeping Barcelona at bay through compact defending and sharp counterattacks.
Barcelona, led from the touchline by assistant coach Marcus Sorg in the absence of suspended manager Hansi Flick, struggled to create clear chances. The visitors were also missing several key players, including Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo, while teenage winger Lamine Yamal — who had mocked Madrid earlier in the week — failed to make an impact and was greeted with loud jeers from the home fans.
As tensions mounted in the closing minutes, Barcelona’s frustrations boiled over when Pedri was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a late challenge on Aurélien Tchouaméni. A brief touchline scuffle followed, capping off a fiery finale to an intense encounter.
Real Madrid’s victory — their ninth in ten league matches — reinforces their position at the summit of La Liga and signals their resurgence under Alonso following their earlier derby defeat to Atlético Madrid in September.
For Barcelona, it was another night of frustration as their injury-hit squad and lack of cutting edge proved costly. Despite nine minutes of stoppage time and desperate tactical gambles, including pushing defender Ronald Araújo into attack, the Catalans could not breach Thibaut Courtois’s goal again.
The result leaves Madrid in firm control of the title race, with Bellingham once again proving his worth as one of Europe’s most influential midfielders and a decisive figure on Spanish football’s grandest stage.
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