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Jude Bellingham's goal helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to win a tense Clasico and move five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of La Liga on Sunday.Champions Barcelona won all four times the teams were pitted against each other last season but in his first Clasico as Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso snapped that run.Kylian Mbappe, who later missed a penalty, fired Madrid in front and although Fermin Lopez levelled for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham netted a second for the hosts before half-time which proved decisive.Barca playmaker Pedri was sent off in the final stages for a second yellow card as tensions spilled over in the Spanish capital.Madrid's victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games and Alonso's side proved against Barca they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid in September.Hansi Flick's team were led on the touchline by his assistant Marcus Sorg, as the German coach was suspended following a red card last weekend as they scraped a victory over relegation-battling Girona.Barcelona were without several regular starters, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo among others, while Lamine Yamal still does not appear fully fit after a groin injury but started.The teenager wound up Madrid fans in the week by claiming Los Blancos "steal" and "complain" and his name was greeted with a chorus of jeers when read out before kick-off.Barcelona had more of the ball in the first half but it was largely sterile possession and Madrid created the most dangerous opportunities.The hosts were awarded an early penalty when Yamal appeared to bring down Vinicius Junior. However it was cancelled after a VAR review as it was the Brazilian initiated the contact.Madrid fans' ire at the officials grew when Mbappe blasted home from outside the area but the goal was ruled out for a milimetric offside against the French superstar.Mbappe did not have long to wait before he could celebrate in earnest, after superb work by Bellingham sent him through on goal.The forward, the division's top goalscorer, netted his 11th league goal of the campaign with a lethal low finish past Wojciech Szczesny.The goalkeeper made a good save from Dean Huijsen while Bellingham and Fede Valverde went close as Madrid took control.Szczesny stopped efforts from Vinicius and Bellingham again, and it was against the run of play when Barcelona equalised.Arda Guler gave away possession in a dangerous area and Marcus Rashford, playing in his first Clasico, crossed for Lopez to blast the visitors level in the 38th minute.Bellingham struck Madrid's second five minutes later to give Los Blancos a deserved advantage at the interval.The England international, who scored his first goal at the Bernabeu since April in midweek against Juventus, gleefully tapped home after Eder Militao nodded Vinicius's cross back into his path.Mbappe penalty savedMadrid should have extended their lead at the start of the second half but Szczesny made a fine save to push out Mbappe's penalty, after Eric Garcia was penalised for handball.Yamal, frustrated and struggling to make an impact on the game, sent a long-range shot high over the bar as Madrid closed ranks and kept the Catalans at a safe distance from their goal.Madrid looked the more threatening in the final stages despite Barca needing to score, able to bring on Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz, while Barca had little in the way of attacking reinforcements.Sorg sent defender Ronald Araujo up front during nine minutes of stoppage time after he netted the winner as a makeshift striker against Girona, but the centre-back could not trouble Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.Pedri was sent off in the final seconds for a second yellow card for a late foul on Aurelien Tchouameni, sparking a brief sideline shoving match, while players from both sides rowed after the final whistle.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso praised Kylian Mbappe for his stellar form this season, as the French forward tops both the La Liga and Champions League scoring charts ahead of Wednesday's home clash with Juventus. Mbappe, 26, who joined Real from Paris St Germain last season, has scored 10 goals in nine LaLiga matches and five in two Champions League appearances, alongside three goals for the French national team this term. His form has helped Real make a strong start under Alonso, winning 10 of their 11 games across all competitions. The Spanish side lead LaLiga with 24 points, two ahead of Barcelona, and have secured maximum points in the Champions League. "It's not just the goals," Alonso told reporters. "His influence is almost as important in terms of his teammates following him with and without the ball. He's helping us. He's scored goals everywhere. The influence, as well as the goals, is what the team needs." Real face a struggling Juve side who have not won in more than a month and sit seventh in the Serie A standings, four points behind leaders AC Milan. However, Alonso warned against taking the Italians lightly. "We're on alert for Juve tomorrow. Any Italian team that's struggling can be dangerous. We must not forget history. Juve are a big club, both now and in the past. They have some very good players," he said. "It's a European classic. They have faced each other many times, and I’ve played in some of those games. We feel very prepared. We want our third Champions League victory and to get off to a great start. We need the stadium. People go to the Bernabeu wanting to see big games. We have to give them what they want so that they respond in kind." Courtois slams La Liga over plans for Barca-Villarreal Miami match Meanwhile, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has launched a scathing attack on LaLiga and its President Javier Tebas, criticising the decision to stage Barcelona's away match with Villarreal in Miami on December 20, saying it "distorts the competition”. The game, set to take place at the Hard Rock Stadium, would be the first La Liga fixture held outside Spain and the first European league match staged abroad. While European governing body UEFA reluctantly approved the plan, Real Madrid and other LaLiga teams' players have expressed their opposition, with Courtois leading the charge. Speaking at a press conference on the eve of Real’s Champions League clash with visiting Juventus, Courtois accused La Liga of bypassing clubs in the decision-making process and argued that the move undermines the principles of fairness in the home-and-away league format. "LaLiga does whatever it wants because it suits them,” Courtois said. "This decision distorts the competition. Playing at home is not the same as playing away. In LaLiga, playing away is very difficult, as we saw against Real Sociedad and Getafe. Villarreal away is tough. It’s not fair to change the rules mid-season without consulting us.” Courtois also contrasted La Liga’s plans with the NBA and NFL, who regularly play matches abroad. "The NBA has 82 games, and the NFL’s owners collectively approve these decisions. Here, La Liga acts unilaterally. It’s not the same,” he said. Over the weekend, La Liga players staged silent protests by standing motionless at kickoffs across all matches, symbolising their discontent. However, La Liga’s broadcasts ignored the protests in several games, showing a wide, aerial shot of the stadiums accompanied by a banner that read "Commitment to peace", which LaL iga has been using due to the war in Gaza, an attitude that prompted further criticism from Courtois. "Hiding the protests and trying to change the narrative is censorship and manipulation,” Courtois said. "I’m not surprised. (Tebas) behaves like no other sports executive I’ve ever seen. His actions on social media and in public speak volumes.” Real Madrid, who opposed the decision as early as August, have filed two complaints with Spain’s Sports Ministry, arguing that the move undermines the league’s competitive integrity. Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone also weighed in on the controversy, expressing his scepticism over the Miami fixture. "I won’t believe it until I see it,” he told reporters. "The home team loses the advantage. Their fans won’t be there, and they have to travel thousands of miles. We need to respect the fans.” La Liga has repeatedly defended its plan to stage matches abroad, stating that the proposal "does not distort competition or violate any rights of players, clubs or fans". However, with the match now scheduled for Miami, the stage is set for further tension between the league and its players.

Mbappe keeps on scoringReal take back top spot from BarcaGetafe finish game with nine menKylian Mbappe continued his impressive scoring streak as his 10th goal in nine league games earned Real Madrid a 1-0 win at Getafe on Sunday and sent his side back to the top of the LaLiga in a game where the hosts finished with nine men.Real struggled to find a way past a stubborn Getafe until Allan Nyom was sent off 13 minutes from time, one minute after coming off the bench, and Mbappe scored three minutes later.Alex Sancris was then sent off for a second booking before the end.Real are on 24 points, two ahead of Barcelona and the top two will go head-to-head in next Sunday's El Clasico. Getafe are 12th in the standings on 11 points.Real coach Xabi Alonso continued his habit of rotating the starting side, leaving both Vinicius Jr and Arda Guler on the bench while handing Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo rare starts. The game began with both sets of players standing still for 15 seconds, part of a protest organised by the Spanish Footballers' Association over LaLiga's decision to play December's match between Villarreal and Barcelona in the United States.In reality, the match took even longer to get going.Mbappe was a constant threat in the opening half, taking his side into the opposition area, but his own teammates often appeared to be operating on different wavelengths. Aurelien Tchouameni's shot from distance went narrowly over and on the stroke of halftime David Alaba's powerful free kick was parried away by the keeper with Federico Valverde's follow-up effort well off target.Getafe spent most of the opening half keeping Real at bay, but Sancris volleyed narrowly wide shortly before the break to fire a warning shot.With Real no closer to finding the net, Vinicius replaced the unimpressive Franco Mastantuono 10 minutes after the interval and Guler made his entrance after another uneventful 10 minutes.Nyom saw red for a foul on Vinicius and Real wasted little time in taking advantage. When Guler's defence-splitting pass found Mbappe with his back to goal, the French forward turned, took the ball into the area and smashed his shot past David Soria.Mbappe, who has also scored five in two Champions League games, and keeper Thibaut Courtois are the two players Alonso cannot do without this season, and Courtois denied Abu Kamara in added time to deny Getafe an equaliser.Before the top of the table clash with Barcelona, Real host Juventus on Wednesday in the Champions League.

Barcelona moved top of La Liga Saturday after Ronald Araujo struck deep in stoppage time to snatch the champions a 2-1 win over Girona. The defender, sent on as an emergency forward, netted in the 93rd minute to give Barca a one-point lead on Real Madrid, who visit Getafe Sunday. Elsewhere, Antony struck twice for Real Betis, fourth, to secure them a 2-2 comeback draw at third-place Villarreal. Following two consecutive defeats Hansi Flick’s Barca were only just able to edge Girona, 19th, thanks to Araujo’s late goal. Pedri Gonzalez slotted Barcelona ahead early on but Axel Witsel equalised with a superb overhead kick for a Girona side who came close to securing a deserved point. “We didn’t play our best match but we fought to the end and we scored that goal – it will give us confidence for the next matches, at least this is what I hope,” said Barca coach Flick. Flick brought Lamine Yamal back into the starting line-up after he recovered from the groin injury which kept him out of Spain’s recent World Cup qualifiers. The teenage winger also missed the 4-1 thrashing by Sevilla in Barcelona’s last La Liga outing, which the Catalans were only just able to bounce back from. With several players, including striker Robert Lewandowski out injured, Flick handed a league debut to 17-year-old forward Toni Fernandez. In line with the protest organised by the Spanish footballers’ association against Barca’s match against Villarreal in December which has been moved to Miami, both sets of players stood still for 15 seconds after the whistle blew for kick-off. Barca took the initiative and earned a 13th-minute lead after Jules Kounde and Yamal combined well, allowing midfielder Pedri to casually pass into the bottom right corner. Girona, who finished in the top four two seasons ago but have struggled ever since, soon found a way back level. Witsel produced a stunning overhead kick to equalise in the 20th minute and shock the hosts. The visitors broke behind Barcelona’s high line several times to create danger. Cristian Portu struck the post after getting in behind Barca’s defence and Girona spurned two more one-on-ones. Marcus Rashford struck the crossbar with a free-kick at the other end as a warning to the minnows. Flick made a surprising double change, withdrawing star players Yamal and Pedri despite chasing the game, with Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Olympiakos in mind, as well as next weekend’s Clasico. Paulo Gazzaniga made an excellent save at his near post to thwart Rashford, who also had a penalty appeal waved away.Flick sent on centre-back Araujo as a striker in the final stages in desperation and the Uruguayan delivered deep in stoppage time, finishing off Frenkie de Jong’s cross to snatch three points. Araujo ripped off his shirt in celebration as Barca claimed a victory which seemed improbable after a flat second-half display. “At the moment we’re leading the table so it’s a good situation, Real Madrid have to win tomorrow,” said Flick. “We are missing the dynamic we normally have... I miss this a little bit... we needed this goal and this victory today.” Flick was sent off in the final stages for dissent and is set for a touchline ban at the Santiago Bernabeu next weekend, and perhaps beyond after he made a gesture viewed as uncouth in Spain as he celebrated Araujo’s goal. Girona were left licking their wounds after a fifth defeat of the campaign. “We feel that we played a great game... (but) we had four or five clear chances and should have scored more to kill the game,” Witsel said. “It’s hard mentally to let in a goal like that, but we have to think about the first half (we played)... and keep that in mind for our next match.” Atletico Madrid host Osasuna later Saturday aiming to pull level on points with Betis. Former Manchester United winger Antony’s brace helped the Andalusians peg back Villarreal from two goals down, leaving the Yellow Submarine five points behind Barca and one ahead of Betis.

UEFA on Monday said it had “reluctantly” approved the staging of a La Liga and a Serie A match in the United States and Australia respectively despite fan protests.“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.UEFA made its ruling after Spain’s La Liga agreed to move a game scheduled for late December between champions Barcelona and Villarreal to Miami, Florida. Italy’s Serie A also decided to stage the encounter between AC Milan and Como on February 8 in Perth, Australia, to avoid a clash with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium.But that sparked protests from European supporters groups who branded the moves “absurd, unaffordable, and environmentally irresponsible”.In its statement, UEFA said that it had “reiterated its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country”.But despite “the widespread lack of support that had already been raised by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions”, UEFA said that it had found no clear regulatory framework in FIFA’s statutes that would allow it to oppose the moves. “The UEFA Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it,” European football’s governing body said in its statement.While the idea of relocating European football matches to other continents seems shocking to many, other sports - particularly US ones - have been doing something similar for years, even decades. The NFL has held games in London since 2007 while it also expanded to Mexico and Germany. Last year it added a game in Sao Paulo and this year there has been one in Dublin for the first time. Another is slated for Madrid in November while Melbourne will play host to a game in 2026.The NBA, which has relocated regular-season matches since 1990 to Japan and since 2013 to Europe, has already scheduled six games in Berlin, London, Manchester and Paris over the next three seasons. In rugby union, the French Top 14 club competition took its 2016 final to Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium, while Ireland and New Zealand played an international match in Chicago that same year - with Ireland claiming their first ever victory over the All Blacks.Last weekend, Argentina played their final Rugby Championship match at home to South Africa at Twickenham in London. It is not unheard of in football to host matches abroad, but until now those had only ever been glorified friendlies.

Spanish champions Barcelona collapsed in a shock 4-1 demolition at Sevilla in La Liga, with Alexis Sanchez scoring against his former side and Robert Lewandowski missing a penalty for the visitors.The Catalans sit second in the table after their first defeat of the campaign, two points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid following Los Blancos' victory over Villarreal on Saturday, while Sevilla rise provisionally to fourth. Veteran Chilean winger Sanchez sent Sevilla ahead from the penalty spot early on and Isaac Romero doubled the hosts' lead after having already missed two good chances.Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back for Barcelona before half-time, but Lewandowski fired wide from the spot to spurn his team's best chance of an equaliser. Jose Carmona and Akor Adams wrapped up Sevilla's emphatic win in the final stages, as Hansi Flick's side fell to an unusually heavy defeat. "The team's first 45 minutes were horrendous, I think we've not played a game as bad as that and we must be self-critical," Barca midfielder Pedri Gonzalez said.Flick defended his team despite their loss, saying he was pleased with their reaction in the second half. "I know that we have to analyse (everything), especially in the first half... but in the second, for me to see the reaction of the team and them fighting was good to see," Flick told reporters. "It's one match and we lost it, and we have to keep going on."Barcelona were still licking their wounds after Paris Saint-Germain beat them late on in the Champions League on Wednesday, and were without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal. The Catalans were sluggish and although Sevilla have a weaker squad compared to their peak years in the early part of this century, the hosts' energy was enough to pull Flick's disorganised team apart. "In the first half we didn't know how to defend well or attack well," Pedri said.It started when Ronald Araujo clumsily grappled with Romero in the box and a penalty was awarded as the striker gratefully hit the deck. Sanchez dispatched it, with the 36-year-old sending Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way to fire Matias Almeyda's side ahead. Romero missed two big chances, first denied by Szczesny and then skewing wide after Lucien Agoume's neat cross set him up.The striker made no mistake next time though, sweeping into the bottom corner from Ruben Vargas' cutback as Barca were opened up again. Rashford was the first Barcelona player to awake from their slumber, forcing a save at his near post from Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. The England international pulled the champions back into the game deep in first-half stoppage time, volleying home Pedri's cross for his first La Liga goal. Flick took off Araujo and Gerard Martin for Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde at the interval, trying to shake up his team after their poor first-half display.Szczesny made a fine save with his legs to thwart Djibril Sow early in the second half as Sevilla continued to take the initiative. However, having won just one league game at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in 2025 before Barcelona's visit, the hosts' nerves began to shake. Sevilla substitute Adnan Januzaj conceded a penalty for felling Balde as he flew into the box, granting Barca a golden chance to level.Veteran Polish striker Lewandowski stuttered twice in his run-up before firing wide of the post. Youngster Roony Bardghji could have equalised but fired straight at the goalkeeper after Lewandowski's flick-on sent him in on goal, while Rashford was also ready to pounce if the winger had passed.Sevilla wrapped up their win late on through full-back Carmona, who drilled a low effort past Szczesny and into the far corner, and Adams. "I'm very happy for the victory, we needed to win at home," said Sevilla coach Almeyda. "We couldn't give them a metre of space... we knew what we had to do and we're on a good path."

Alvarez struck twice to earn Atletico Madrid an emphatic 5-2 derby victory over La Liga leaders Real Madrid Saturday, ending their rivals' perfect start to the season.Xabi Alonso's side had won all six of their games but Diego Simeone's Atletico overran them at the Metropolitano stadium. The hosts took the lead through Robin Le Normand.Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler netted to put Real Madrid in front but Alexander Sorloth levelled for Atletico at the end of a thrilling first half. Alvarez fired in from the penalty spot and then bent home a free-kick.Antoine Griezmann grabbed the fifth late on to seal an important win after a shaky start to the campaign. Atletico rose provisionally to fourth. "There are no excuses, we're hurting, it's a derby and a deserved defeat," said Alonso, after his side conceded five against their rivals for the first time since 1950.Atletico's joy was evident, with Simeone visibly emotional on the sideline as his team racked up the scoreline. "There's a lot of emotions... we've had a troubled start to the season," said Simeone. "From the start of the game we knew where we could hurt them... today was a very, very good (performance)."Led by a flying Mbappe, Real came into Alonso's first derby at the helm as the only side in the league with a 100 percent record. Although the French superstar scored again to reach eight league goals for the season, Atletico attacked relentlessly and deserved their victory.Real Madrid started Jude Bellingham for the first time since his shoulder surgery in the summer, but the England international struggled to make an impact. Giuliano Simeone, coach Diego Simeone's son, took advantage of slack Madrid defending to whip in a cross which Le Normand headed home after 14 minutes to open the scoring.The visitors reacted well. Mbappe levelled with a crisp finish after breaking in down the right. Atletico were taking the game to Real Madrid, with Alonso's side content to spring forward on the counter, trying to use the pace of Vinicius Junior and Mbappe.The Brazilian winger created Madrid's second goal, turning brilliantly in the box to break away from Marcos Llorente and Le Normand, before crossing for Guler to strike. Alvarez, who netted a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano in midweek, curled a shot around Thibaut Courtois but against the post as Atletico continued pushing.Atletico defender Clement Lenglet put the ball in the net but the Frenchman used his forearm to deflect it home. In first-half stoppage time, Atletico pulled level. Sorloth, lurking behind Dean Huijsen, planted a header beyond Courtois.The Norwegian striker celebrated with Atletico fans, who embraced him – a risky move when already on a yellow card, but he was not dismissed. Atletico moved in front for the second time when Guler gave away a penalty for a high boot, catching Nico Gonzalez's head.Alvarez, who had a penalty controversially disallowed in a Champions League shoot-out the last time the sides met, beat Courtois from the spot, even though the Belgian went the right way. "Each penalty is a new penalty, a new game, a new chance," said Alvarez.Courtois saved from Sorloth but despite getting a hand to Alvarez's free-kick, he could not keep it out as Atletico pushed two goals clear. On as a substitute, Atletico talisman Griezmann wrapped up a superb victory, rolling the ball past Courtois as the home fans rocked in delight.The players did a lap of honour, after only their third league win of the season, but it was a vital one. "It's a very special day, we knew how important this game was, being a derby of course but also because we needed the three points," Alvarez said.Real Madrid's defeat means champions Barcelona have the chance to move top, if they beat Real Sociedad today. "Few words can console us, but tomorrow the sun will come out and we will work harder than ever," pledged Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal.