Mbappe double sinks Barcelona as Mourinho tastes Clasico triumph

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou, handing Jose Mourinho a landmark win on his return to the Clasico touchline and cutting Barca's lead at the top of La Liga to three points.

The France forward opened the scoring before half-time and struck again deep into the second half to inflict Barcelona's first domestic defeat of the season, according to Yahoo Sports.

Raphinha had levelled for the hosts just after the hour, but Mbappe's second settled it and sent Mourinho sliding to his knees in celebration, Sky Sports Football reported.

Real Madrid remain third in the table behind Atletico Madrid and Hansi Flick's Barcelona, who had won their opening nine league fixtures before a difficult week that also included a Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

Mourinho fielded his side without suspended winger Vinicius Junior, while Andriy Lunin deputised in goal after Thibaut Courtois withdrew from the squad with flu.

The opening exchanges were tight, with Pau Cubarsi twice shutting down Mbappe and Marc Cucurella closely marking Lamine Yamal.

Anthony Gordon, playing his first Clasico since arriving from Newcastle, backheeled to Raphinha, who fired narrowly wide as Barcelona threatened.

Barcelona were further disrupted when young defender Xavi Espart went off injured before the half-hour mark, with Alejandro Balde sent on in his place.

Lunin denied Gordon from close range before Madrid broke the deadlock, Mbappe turning in a Gerard Martin clearance that deflected off him and into the net for his tenth league goal of the campaign.

Yamal then spurned a clear chance to level, firing wide when well placed, and Yan Diomande struck the side-netting for Madrid before the interval.

Martin held off Jude Bellingham early in the second half to prevent an immediate second Madrid goal, before Raphinha drew Barcelona level just after the hour.

Pedri supplied the Brazilian, La Liga's leading scorer with 13, who shot through Bellingham's legs and beyond Lunin.

Barcelona pushed for a winner as Lunin saved brilliantly from Martin at a corner, Yamal bent an effort wide, and substitute Frenkie de Jong had a shot blocked by Dean Huijsen.

The decisive moment came when Gabriel Jesus lost possession and Madrid broke swiftly, Eduardo Camavinga beating Cubarsi before cutting the ball back for Mbappe to finish into an empty net as Joan Garcia was drawn out of position.

The goal also brought up a century of strikes for Mbappe since his move to Real Madrid from PSG in 2024.

Mourinho praised his side's composure after the match. "My team had an extraordinary game, very organised, good concentration, with courage to play out from the back against a team that presses you a lot," he told reporters, adding: "We had chances for the second goal... obviously Barca had a strong reaction but we were calm and organised and at 1-1 we never lost our tranquility."

Flick acknowledged his side's below-par display. "You saw today, we lacked freshness," he said, before reflecting on the broader picture: "It's the first defeat in La Liga, we won nine in a row. This is what we have to see. Defeats are a part of the game. We have to analyse, we have to make things better. Now it's important that we make a reaction."

The win was Real Madrid's fifth in a row across all competitions, continuing their improved form under Mourinho after two trophyless seasons prompted the club to bring the Portuguese coach back.

Mbappe was keen to temper celebrations after the result. "(Winning) is a good message today, but we can't think the season is done -- next week (at Racing) Santander we have to put in the same intensity," he told Real Madrid TV.

Madrid now turn their attention to that trip to Racing Santander, while Barcelona will look to respond after back-to-back defeats in domestic and European competition.