Real Madrid beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou and close LaLiga title race to 3 points

Real Madrid struck first in the Clásico at the Camp Nou and left the LaLiga title race wide open. The team coached by José Mourinho defeated Barcelona in a match the Catalans approached with the chance to extend their lead at the top of the standings. Instead, the visitors produced a solid performance, especially in the first half, and cut the gap to three points behind the leaders.

• Real Madrid won at the Camp Nou and moved within 3 points of Barcelona.
• Barcelona lost their first LaLiga match of the season.
• Bernardo Silva was one of Mourinho's key selections and the plan worked in the first half.
• Atlético de Madrid are second on 25 points, between the two rivals.
• Barça have now lost twice in a week, including their Champions League defeat to PSG.

Mourinho turns to Bernardo Silva and Real Madrid shine before the break

In the days before the match, there was speculation that Mourinho would reinforce the midfield with a physical double pivot to contain Barcelona. Instead, the Portuguese coach went for a more creative setup and brought Bernardo Silva into the starting eleven. The decision worked: Real Madrid produced their best 45 minutes of the season and reached half-time with a lead after controlling the opening act.

Barcelona react, equalise, but fall late at home

Barcelona pressed after the break and found an equaliser following a defensive error from Real Madrid. The 1-1 lifted the atmosphere at the Camp Nou and put the visitors under real pressure for a stretch of the second half. Even so, Mourinho's team held firm and landed the decisive blow near the end to take all three points from a venue that rarely forgives hesitation.

How the LaLiga table looks after El Clásico

Barcelona remain top with 27 points, but the defeat reopens the title race completely. Real Madrid climb to 24 points and sit just one win away from the summit. Between them are Atlético de Madrid, who have 25 points after a hard-fought win over Deportivo de la Coruña. The Rojiblancos have one fewer defeat than Real Madrid and one more draw.

A week to forget for Barcelona: two defeats in seven days

The home loss in the Clásico comes on top of the European setback Barcelona already suffered a few days earlier. The Catalans fell to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and, a week later, also dropped their first league match of the campaign. The mood among the fan bases is starkly different: while Barça supporters deal with a double blow, Madrid and Atlético fans celebrate that the leaders no longer look untouchable.

What the Real Madrid win means for the rest of the season

The victory prevents Barcelona from opening up a nine-point gap, a distance that would have made Real Madrid's title hopes extremely difficult. With only three points separating the two rivals, the championship now enters a more demanding phase for the three teams at the top. For Real Madrid, the result also backs up Mourinho's work in a project still under construction but already showing clear signs of identity.

Frequently asked questions about El Clásico and the standings