Real Madrid secured a hard-fought yet crucial 2-1 victory over Barcelona in a dramatic El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu. This win extends Los Blancos' lead at the top of La Liga to five points. The match served as a form of redemption for the hosts, who had lost all four encounters against Barcelona last season, including a heavy 4-0 defeat in the same fixture a year ago.

Barcelona entered the match missing several key players, including Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, which allowed Real Madrid to create numerous chances and fire 10 shots on target. Video replays played a pivotal role once again, denying the hosts both a penalty and an opening goal before Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a superb pass from Jude Bellingham.

Barcelona managed to equalize through Fermin Lopez, following a setup by Marcus Rashford, but Real Madrid's technical prowess proved decisive. Real's manager, Xabi Alonso, orchestrated the game with superior control, and Bellingham secured the victory with a header from Eder Militao. Despite Mbappe missing a penalty and Pedri being sent off with a second yellow card late in the game, Real Madrid deservedly ended Barcelona's winning streak in this historic rivalry.

Analysis: Real Madrid showcased excellent tactical discipline and exploited Barcelona's defensive weaknesses. Despite missing some of their stars, Barcelona fought valiantly but couldn't match the class of the Madrid side, who now appear to be strong contenders for the title this season.