Real Madrid held on to a 2–1 victory over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, a result that sees the hosts move clear at the top of La Liga.
Jude Bellingham’s 43rd-minute finish proved decisive after Barcelona had briefly levelled through Fermín López, while Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Madrid in the first half.
Mbappé put Madrid ahead shortly before the half-hour mark, threading a low, long-range strike past the goalkeeper to give Madrid the lead.
Barcelona responded when Fermín capitalised on a defensive error to make it 1–1 in the 38th minute, but Bellingham restored Madrid’s advantage moments before half-time with a simple tap-in from close range after sustained pressure.
The second half produced more controversy and big moments.
Referee César Soto Grado awarded Madrid a penalty just after the hour mark for an incident in the box, but Wojciech Szczesny produced a superb save to deny Mbappé from the spot and keep Barcelona in the contest.
Later, Madrid thought they had scored from a Brahim–Bellingham combination, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
The game boiled over in stoppage time when Barcelona’s Pedri received a second yellow card for an overrun challenge on Tchouameni and was sent off, leaving Barcelona to finish the match with 10 men.
In the dying moments, Madrid’s Rodrygo whipped a free-kick at goal, but Szczesny was equal to it, preserving Madrid’s slender lead.
The result ends Barcelona’s stubborn resistance at the Bernabéu. For Madrid, the win halts a four-game losing streak against their Catalan rivals.
