It was not a night for comebacks for Real Madrid, who were taught a lesson in football by rivals Barcelona in the recent El Clasico, losing the match by four goals to nil.
Particularly to blame for the night’s worries on the home side was Kylian Mbappe, whose debut introduction did not go as planned. He was flagged offside eight times and scored two offside goals.
Robert Lewandowski scored two, while Lamime Yamal and Raphinha rounded up the match for the Blaugrana as they steamrolled their rivals and kept home of the top spot on the table. This victory extended their lead at the top of the table and showcased their resurgence under Hansi Flick.
Lineups
Barcelona: Inaki Pena (gk), Balde, Christensen, Kounde, Bellerin, De Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Yamal.
Real Madrid: Lunin (gk), Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy, Camavinga, Kroos, Valverde, Vinicius Jr., Mbappe, Rodrygo.
How The Match Unfolded
The match started as an end-to-end affair, with Madrid looking to get behind the ball and pass to Vinicius Jr. The home side pressured Barca in the first few minutes, but no goals were scored.
Kylian Mbappe had a couple of chances, one of which was when he tried to chip Inaki Pena, which sailed over the bar. He then got another chance, still blazed over, but was offside.
Midweek’s hat trick hero for Barca, Raphinha, was also involved in the action. After he dribbled past two defenders at the edge of the box, he could not apply the finish.
Mbappe was then repeatedly offside following several chances created by his teammates. One ended in the back of the net, while another was shot wide after the striker passed to Eduardo Camavinga.
The first half ended in a stalemate, with neither side doing enough to take the lead, but Madrid was the more dangerous of the two sides.
Barca came out in the second half more prepared, and a sublime through pass took out Real’s press and found Lewandowski, who finished beautifully in the 54th minute.
The Polish striker added another after Balde’s cross from the left was met by a strong header, giving the Catalans a two-goal lead.
Lewandowski had two more chances to get a hat trick, the first coming after a quick interchange, with Raphinha giving him the ball, which he hit the bar with.
He blazed the next one over, but a lobbed ball from deep saw Raphinha beat Vazquez for the ball as he ran through on goal and chipped Andrey Lunin for Barca’s third.
Lamine Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in El Clasico after a brilliant counterattack saw the young winger burst forward and unleash an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.
Stats
Madrid looked devastated and bereft of ideas. The defending champions are six points behind Barcelona, who won the first El Clasico match after four consecutive losses.
Lewandowski’s goals also see him top the La Liga goal scorers chart with 14, while Ayoze Perez is next with 7.
Post Match Analysis
Madrid was heavily impacted by Mbappe’s lousy decision-making, as their choice to exploit the high line would have paid off if the forward had been in better spirits. Real Madrid’s reliance on Mbappe backfired as his offside issues and poor decision-making hindered their attack. Despite an impressive first half, their defense crumbled under pressure, and their midfield struggled to control the game.
Barca’s counterattacks worked well against a Madrid side with a disjointed press, and through possessions served the away side more and kept possession to keep Madrid off the ball. Barcelona’s victory was a testament to Hansi Flick’s tactical acumen. Their high defensive line, though risky, effectively neutralized Madrid’s threat.
Lewandowski’s brace highlighted his sharpness, and Yamal’s performance underscored the promising future of Barcelona’s youth.
What’s Next
Barcelona, now six points clear at the top, looks to maintain its momentum and extend its unbeaten streak. On the other hand, Real Madrid will need to regroup and address its tactical shortcomings. The following fixtures will be crucial as they aim to close the gap and reclaim their position at the top.
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