Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over FC Barcelona in the biggest fixture in Spanish football:

Player Ratings (Real Madrid)

Based on the post-match reviews:

• Thibaut Courtois: ~6.5 — A steady presence in goal but not called upon for anything spectacular. (NBC Sports)

• Fede Valverde: ~7 — Solid work rate and involvement off the bench (or being subbed). (NBC Sports)

• Éder Militão: ~8 — Strong defensive showing, helped keep Barcelona at bay. (NBC Sports)

• Dean Huijsen: ~7 — Impressive for his age in such a big game. (NBC Sports)

• Álvaro Carreras: ~6 — Had a quieter game compared to others. (NBC Sports)

• Aurélien Tchouaméni: ~7.8 — A rock in the midfield shielding the defence. (SI)

• Eduardo Camavinga: ~7 — All-action and effective, especially as he returns to full rhythm after injury. (Football España)

• Arda Güler: ~6.4 — One of his weaker outings; was caught out for Barcelona’s equaliser. (SI)

• Jude Bellingham: ~8.3–9 — The standout. Goal + assist, constant threat, big-occasion performance. (SI)

• Vinícius Júnior: ~7.2 — Decent attacking contributions but marred by his reaction when substituted. (SI)

• Kylian Mbappé: ~7.7 — Scored the opener, had a strong game overall, but the missed penalty left a mark. (SI)

Why Jude Bellingham was king of this El Clásico

• From the first whistle it was clear Bellingham was operating at another level: he played with composure, vision and urgency.

• He provided the assist for Mbappé’s goal from a perfectly weighted pass that split Barça’s defence. (Opta Analyst)

• He then scored the second goal just before half-time, tapping home from close range after a well-worked move involving Vinícius Júnior and Militão. (Sky Sports)

• His rating reflects that performance: 8.3 out of 10 in one review, and up to 9 in another.

• He simply asserted himself when the game mattered most. (SI)

• Beyond the stats: his runs into the box, his intelligence in movement, his ability to link play — all showed maturity and a mindset built for grand stages.

Mbappé: strong but imperfect

• Mbappé opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Bellingham’s assist.

• That goal reaffirmed his status as a big-game player. (Sky Sports)

• He was involved throughout, causing issues for the Barça defence with his pace and off-the-ball movement. His rating of ~7.7 reflects that he was influential. (SI)

• But the missed penalty was a significant blot.

• In high-stakes games like this every moment is magnified, and while the save by the goalkeeper saved Barcelona, it prevented him from turning a strong performance into a dominant one. (Sports Mole)

• So: a very good El Clásico from him, but not flawless — and Bellingham’s brilliance overshadowed him in some respects.

Context & implications for the title race

• Real Madrid’s win ended Barcelona’s recent dominance in the fixture. (Opta Analyst)

• It moved Madrid five points clear at the top of La Liga, putting them in a strong position. (Reuters)

• The way Madrid controlled large parts of the game — especially via their press and sustained possession — signalled they were serious title contenders, not just in name but in substance. (Sky Sports)

• For Barcelona, this is a warning sign: they created chances but were exposed defensively at critical moments and lacked a cutting edge at the back.

• For Madrid, the message is clear: with Bellingham in top form, Mbappé sharp and the defensive unit tightened, they are back to being a force at the very top.

Jude Bellingham was the clear match-winner for Real Madrid in this El Clásico.

His goal and assist came at the right time, and his all-round performance lifted his team.

Mbappé, while strong, had a little blemish with the missed penalty which prevented him from reaching the same heights.

But the bigger picture is Madrid re-asserting themselves in the title race and showing that when big players perform, they step up on big occasions.