FC Barcelona edged closer to the LALIGA title after defeating Real Madrid 4-3 in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday evening.
Barcelona were unchanged from the UEFA Champions League loss to Inter Milan midweek, while Los Blancos also stuck with the eleven that started the win over Celta Vigo last weekend.
Los Blancos got off to a flying start when Kylian Mbappe netted from the penalty spot inside five minutes after going down from Wojciech Szczesny’s challenge.
Mbappe haunted the hosts after 14 minutes played when he brought a surging cross from Vinicius Junior in his stride and finished with ease to complete his brace.
Barcelona pulled one back midway through the first half after Eric Garcia escaped Raul Asencio in the area and dispatched Ferran Torres’ flick-on.
Teen sensation Lamine Yamal restored parity past the half-hour mark when he brought a lay-off from Torres under control and curled beyond Thibaut Courtois for his third goal against Real this season.
Barcelona were in the lead not long after as a forward-pass by Pedri picked out Raphinha, who needed no second invitation.
Raphinha had the final say in the first half and secured a first-half brace a minute to halftime when he linked up with with Torres before beating Courtois with a stern finish.
After a fiery first half, Mbappe very nearly secured a hat-trick after halftime when he beat Pau Cubarsi to a ball at the near post and cut inside to hit target, but he missed narrowly.
The pacey Frenchman didn’t drop his head and eventually completed a hat-trick in the closing stages as he tapped in a first-time cross from Vinicius to make it 4-3.
Los Blancos levelled three minutes into stoppage time when Mbappe volleyed in from the area, but the celebrations were cut short as the forward was in an offside position.
At the end, Barcelona walked away with the maximum points and the honour of defeating their rivals for the third time this season.
