Kylian Mbappe scored a decisive brace as Real Madrid beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp to keep their heads above water in the La Liga title race.

So many La Liga campaigns end up as dogfights between these two great rivals, and Los Blancos’ dawdling, injury-ravaged start to this campaign has already led many to question their credentials. With nine of 38 matches played, they headed to Barcelona six points off the pace, a gulf which could have widened to nine with defeat here. Not insurmountable, but certainly not good enough.

There would be no such crisis on this difficult day for Hansi Flick’s Blaugrana. Jose Mourinho, leaned into his underdog billing and picked up a vital win.

He was significantly shorthanded. Vinicius Junior was suspended, Ferland Mendy and Raul Asencio both injured. And then the great goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was struck down with flu 24 hours before kick-off.

It is in these situations where Mourinho thrives, though. His pragmatic game plan was the perfect antidote to Barcelona’s flowing attack and vindicated as Mbappe scored either side of a deflected Raphinha effort to secure a vital three points.

Flick’s side started the season so well, but must now go back to the drawing board after losing back-to-back matches for the first time since February.

Barcelona started the better side as they dominated early possession, but, in spite of the fact Lamine Yamal had Marc Cucurella’s number, they could not impose themselves on the visitors.

Their best chances before the break came through a number of speculative efforts from Raphinha, who failed to properly test Andriy Lunin, handed a late call-up between the sticks in place of the poorly Courtois.

Real were content to spend most of the match off the ball, but had plenty of joy sending lofted passes in behind the high Barcelona line.

For all their effective, direct build-up, though, the opener was wholly accidental. Yan Diomande put Gerard Martin in a spot of bother with a low cross, but the Barcelona man canoned his clearance off the body of Mbappe. It ended up in the back of the net, not that Mbappe himself knew anything about it, but that was enough to have Mourinho’s men in front at half-time.

Barcelona were plainly incensed and came out swinging in the second half, but more dogged defensive work kept them at bay. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham both saved likely goals with brilliantly timed late tackles, though the England international also fluffed a well-defended two-on-one.

If it was good fortune which created the Madrid opener, it was their undoing for the equaliser. Raphinha received the ball to feet in the box and took a snap shot, slipping it both between the legs of Bellingham and under the arm of Lunin to set up a frantic last half-hour.

It was an end-to-end affair into the dying stages as both sides looked to put daylight between themselves and their rivals.

And who else but Mbappe to bury the hammer blow. Bellingham did wonderfully to beat his man and send Eduardo Camavinga in behind, and the Portuguese put it on a plate for the prolific striker to deliver the knockout blow.