Jose Mourinho's enduring mastery of El Clasico delivered a key 2-1 victory for Real Madrid at Barcelona's Camp Nou on Monday. The win ended the hosts' nine-game unbeaten domestic run and moved Real Madrid to within three points of the La Liga leaders.

Mourinho became only the third Real Madrid manager, after Miguel Munoz and Vicente del Bosque, to go six consecutive Clasicos without defeat. His record across two spells now stands at six wins and six losses in the fixture. "In my view, Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou, Real Madrid play to win La Liga," Mourinho said after the match. He added that the victory was a result of a "tactical plan" executed with "personality" by his players.

Mbappé's double decides tense clash

Kylian Mbappé scored both goals for the visitors. His opening goal came in the 17th minute, a fortuitous deflection off his shin from a Federico Valverde cross. Barcelona's equaliser came from Raphinha in the 33rd minute, the Brazilian finishing after a rapid counter-attack. The decisive moment arrived in the 87th minute when substitute Eduardo Camavinga drove to the byline and cut the ball back for Mbappé to fire home from close range. That strike sparked Mourinho's trademark knee-slide celebration on the touchline. Barcelona could not find an equaliser despite late pressure, with Robert Lewandowski heading a chance wide in added time.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick admitted his team struggled with fatigue after a demanding schedule. Flick said, acknowledging his side's first league defeat of the season. He noted that his players looked "a step too slow" in key moments. The result also marked Real Madrid's first victory at Camp Nou in three years.

Title race reshaped

The victory tightens the title race significantly.

The match was not without controversy, as a challenge by Barcelona's Joao Cancelo on Real Madrid defender Yan Diomande went unpunished with a red card. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials reviewed the incident but advised the on-field referee to only show a yellow. Real Madrid's focus now shifts to their next fixture against city rivals Atletico Madrid, a match that could further reshape the top of the table. Barcelona, meanwhile, travel to face Valencia.

Read the full report at bbc.co.uk