Kylian Mbappé had the good fortune to thank as the Real Madrid striker set his side on course to end Barcelona’s perfect start to the Liga season with the first goal in the clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday.
After Marc Cucurella released Yan Diomande down the left, the visiting winger broke into the box and received a cross that was partially cleared by Gerard Martin, who rebounded to the spot. Mbappé from short range in the 41st minute.
Shortly before, late substitute Andriy Lunin denied Barcelona Striker Anthony Gordon in a one-on-one after home defender Xavi Espart was injured during the first half of the Clásico at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Ukraine international Lunin, who replaced Thibaut Courtois as the first-choice goalkeeper is suffering from flu, made a strong save to push Gordon’s angled shot around his near post after Refinha sent the direct cable from England clear.
Espart appeared to be caught on the ankle by a sliding tackle from Aurelien Tchouameni, who hobbled off in the 30th minute to be replaced by Alejandro Balde.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Yamal torments the Classic League
Lamine Yamal will be a contender for Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony and has eight goals in La Liga this season, but the Spanish sensation turned a superb chance to equalize before half-time.
A deflection from Fermín López fell for the 19-year-old in space in front of goal, curling an effort wide of the right post from the right with Lunin off his line hoping to be called into emergency action or see the net.
The flurry of chances continued when new £115m signing Diomande, a goalscorer in Wednesday’s 4-1 home win over Leipzig in the Champions League, fired into the side netting.
Barca have won all nine league games this season but Madrid, who started six points behind their fierce rivals in third place, went into the break ahead thanks to Mbappé’s goal.
Barcelona confirm the classic starting team vs Real Madrid
Barcelona made two changes after their 4-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, bringing Rodri and Fermín López into midfield.
Dani Olmo was replaced during the first half of that game with a left adductor injury. Marc Bernal moved to the bench.
Barcelona: Joan Garcia, Xavi Espart, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Joao Cancelo, Pedri, Rodri, Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Anthony Gordon
Substitutes: Wojciech Szczesny, Alejandro Balde, Brian Farinas, Gavi, Gabriel Jesus, Karim Adeyemi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal, Dominik Livakovic, Hamza Abdelkarim, Orian Goren, Alex Campos
Complete line-up of Real Madrid against Barcelona in the classic
Lunin replaced Courtois in one of Madrid’s five changes alongside defenders Ibrahima Konate and Cucurella, midfielder Tchouameni and Diomande.
Alvaro Carreras, Antonio Rudiger and Eduardo Camavinga have moved to the bench. Vinicius Junior was suspended.
Real Madrid: Andriy Lunin, Federico Valverde, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Yan Diomande, Kylian Mbappe
Substitutes: Illia Voloshyn, Sergio Mestre, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alvaro Carreras, Antonio Rudiger, Denzel Dumfries, Eduardo Camavinga, Thiago Pitarch, Endrick, Carlos Espi, Brahim Diaz
Where to watch Barça-Madrid: TV channel, live online broadcasts
Kick-off on Sunday was at 20:00 GMT (16:00 ET / 13:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 1 and streaming available on a wide range of devices via the Premier Sports app.
A Premier Sports subscription it costs £120 a year, £11.99 a month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 a month with 30 days’ notice to cancel.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid the classic La Liga stats
- Barça have won six of the last seven meetings between the teams in all competitions, with the exception of a 2-1 home win by Madrid last season.
- Barca have won three of their last four at home against Madrid in La Liga, punctuated by a 2-1 win for the Whites in October 2023 when Jude Bellingham scored in the 68th and 92nd minutes after Ilkay Gundogan had opened the scoring.
- Lionel Messi is the top scorer in the history of the game, Barça’s all-time leading scorer scoring 15 times against Madrid.
- The other two players with double figures in the match played for Madrid: Alfredo di Stefano (13) and Raúl (12).
- Hansi Flick’s side have won eight consecutive home games in all competitions since losing 2-0 to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals on 14 April.
- With six assists for Barça, Lamine Yamal has scored more goals than any other player in La Liga this season. Espanyol’s Javi Hernández has five, with Blaugrana’s Anthony Gordon and Alavés’ Mariano Díaz on four each.
- Barcelona forward Raphinha is the division’s top scorer with 12 goals after eight games, having played one less game than the players immediately behind him on nine goals. Mbappe has 10 and Yamal eight
- Since the La Liga tie at Camp Nou in December 2019, each of the last 22 editions of the Clásico has seen at least one goal, with at least two in each of the most recent 12 meetings.
- This was also the last tie between the teams, although Barcelona won the 2024/25 Copa del Rey final after extra time, with Madrid prevailing in the 2021/22 Supercopa semi-finals after 30 extra minutes.