Mbappe's 100th goal caps Madrid's 2-1 win over Barcelona
Real Madrid ended Barcelona's nine-game winning streak in a tense El Clasico at Camp Nou.
By Jason Lee ·
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 on Sunday night at Camp Nou. The French forward reached a career milestone in the process, netting his 100th goal for the club. The victory snapped Barcelona's nine-game winning streak in La Liga.
Real Madrid were not the favorites when kickoff arrived. Barcelona had started the season perfectly and were one win away from breaking a record set in 1968-69. A loss would have meant Barcelona remained undefeated in the league. Instead, the visitors took the three points.
Mbappe's brace gave him 14 goals in all competitions this season. He has been the second-best scorer in La Liga this term. Last year, he won the Golden Boot at the World Cup and finished as the top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League. The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place in London on Monday.
The result moved the all-time head-to-head record in favor of Real Madrid. They now have 107 wins against Barcelona's 106 in El Clasico history. It was also Barcelona's second consecutive defeat, following a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League days earlier.
Jose Mourinho's side has won five consecutive matches across all competitions. That run includes three league wins and two Champions League victories. The team sits third in the La Liga table with 24 points after 10 matches. Barcelona leads with 27 points, while Atletico Madrid is second with 25.
Mourinho returned to Real Madrid after two seasons without trophies. His previous stint at the club ended 13 years ago. He has not won a league title since 2015, but his return to the managerial seat has brought a change in results. He celebrated the win with a knee slide on the pitch.
Mourinho framed the win as a step toward a larger goal. He told reporters that beating Barcelona at home was not the end of the journey. "If we win today but lose at El Sardinero, it counts for nothing, because Madrid isn't playing to win at the Camp Nou," he said. "They're playing to win the championship."
Source: Al Jazeera
