Mbappe, Madrid claim first blood in Clasico

Real Madrid finally ended its recent struggles against rival Barcelona in a tense Clasico that saw players confronting each other after the final whistle.

Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham scored as Los Blancos beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first Clasico of the season on Sunday, halting a fourgame losing streak against the Catalan giant.

The victory increased Madrid's league lead over Barcelona to five points after 10 rounds.

There was a scuffle between the bench players from both teams after Barcelona's Pedri was sent off just before the final whistle. The altercation continued after the game ended, with Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and Barcelona's teen star striker Lamine Yamal — who was successfully contained by Madrid defenders during the match — among those involved.

"It was the moment and the tension of both teams," Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said. "It was the tension of an important match and a close result. We shouldn't read too much into these moments of tension. All sorts of things have happened in Clasicos."

Vinicius and Yamal — whose prematch comments upset some Madrid fans — exchanged words a couple of times during the game. Vinicius gestured against Yamal, using his hands to hint that the Barcelona star was talking too much.

"Talk is cheap," Bellingham posted on Instagram after the match.

The England player called it "a magnificent performance from the whole team".

"This victory is also for the fans," he told Real Madrid TV. "Last year we played badly in the big games, and today, this victory was for everyone."

Yamal and Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Madrid defender Dani Carvajal also got into an altercation after the match.

Madrid reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was sent off following the post-match scuffle, and Vinicius was among the players shown a yellow card.

Vinicius was visibly upset when he was replaced by Rodrygo in the 72nd. He went straight to the locker room before rejoining his teammates on the bench a few minutes later.

"All coaches know that there are different personalities," Alonso said. "Now we'll enjoy it and, when the time comes, we'll talk about these things in the dressing room, of course."