Kylian Mbappe hits 100 goals as Real Madrid stops Barcelona's winning streak

Kylian Mbappe scored twice on Sunday to lead Real Madrid to a 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou. The win snapped Barcelona's nine-game winning streak in the Spanish top flight and gave Real Madrid their first win of the season against their rivals. Real Madrid now leads the all-time head-to-head record with 107 wins compared to Barcelona's 106.

The match ended a run of form that had Barcelona on the verge of a historic record. Had they won, the Catalan club would have broken Real Madrid's record for the best start in Spanish top-flight history, set during the 1968-69 season. Barcelona has now lost two consecutive matches, following a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier in the week.

Mbappe's two goals brought his career total for Real Madrid to 100 across all competitions. He joined the club in 2024 from Paris Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old is currently the second-best scorer in La Liga this season with 14 goals. His performance puts him in strong contention for the Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded at a ceremony in London on Monday.

The victory marks the fifth consecutive win for Real Madrid, comprising three league matches and two in the Champions League. The team had suffered defeats to Real Betis and Atletico Madrid last month, but recent results show improved stability. Real Madrid sits third in the league standings with 24 points after 10 matches. Barcelona leads the table, while Atletico Madrid is in second place with 25 points.

Manager Jose Mourinho returned to the manager's chair at Real Madrid after two trophy-less seasons. His previous spell with the club included a record-breaking La Liga title. Mourinho has not won a league title since guiding Chelsea to the Premier League championship in 2014-15. His return to El Clasico after 13 years was marked by a victory that he believes builds unity within the squad.

Mourinho emphasized that the team's focus remains on the entire season rather than individual matches. He noted that Barcelona plays to win the championship, not just single games. The manager stated that a loss in the next fixture would negate the importance of this victory if the team did not maintain their winning mentality.

The next scheduled match for Real Madrid is a trip to El Sardinero, as referenced in Mourinho's post-match comments. The team aims to extend their winning streak in their upcoming fixture.

Real Madrid's recent form has narrowed the gap to the league leaders to just three points. With more than three-quarters of the season remaining, the points differential suggests a competitive race for the title is developing.