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Real Madrid Edges Barcelona in El Clasico Thriller

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Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates his goal against Barcelona


Real Madrid extended their flawless home record in LaLiga this season, remaining unbeaten with four wins from four matches after beating Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.


Barcelona were without their main striker Robert Lewandowski, but Marcus Rashford stepped up in his absence...


Real Madrid maintained their flawless home record in the 2025/26 season with a thrilling 2-1 win over Barcelona in the highly anticipated El Clasico. The Spanish giants have now won four consecutive home games, extending their unbeaten streak at the Santiago Bernabeu.


The victory marked another impressive display by Real Madrid, who had been on a roll with eight consecutive home wins dating back to April last season. Barcelona, meanwhile, were without several key players due to injuries, making it a challenging task for Hansi Flick's side to secure a positive result. Flick himself was absent from the touchline, still serving a suspension from the previous game.


El Clasico Showdown

Real Madrid and Barcelona faced off in a highly anticipated El Clasico match, with only two points separating the top two teams in La Liga standings. Despite being plagued by injuries, Barcelona was looking to capitalize on their impressive form against Real Madrid in the previous season, when they won every game between the two teams.


Kylian Mbappe has been in top form, leading the league with 10 goals, including four game-openers this season. His impressive performance sets the stage for a thrilling matchup against Barcelona's defense.


Real Madrid secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Barcelona, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham. Fermín López had briefly equalized for Barcelona after Mbappé's opener, but Bellingham's goal just before halftime sealed the win for Real Madrid.




The win puts Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table with 27 points, five points clear of Barcelona. Villarreal sits third with 20 points, while Espanyol and Atlético de Madrid round out the top five.


Barcelona were without their main striker Robert Lewandowski, but Marcus Rashford stepped up in his absence, showcasing his skills for his new club. The Santiago Bernabeu's closed roof created an intense atmosphere, and the match lived up to expectations with both teams starting at a frenetic pace. It took some time for them to settle into a rhythm.


The electric atmosphere and fast-paced action set the tone for an exciting El Clasico encounter. Both teams struggled to gain a foothold initially, but as the game progressed, they began to assert their styles and create scoring opportunities.


Lamine Yamal's pre-match comments sparked a strong reaction from the Real Madrid fans, who showered him with boos and whistles with every touch in the early stages of the game. The hostile atmosphere added to the tension, setting the stage for a heated El Clasico encounter.



Intense Start to El Clasico

Barcelona dominated possession in the early stages, with 78.6% of the ball in the first 10 minutes. However, Real Madrid's swift counter-attacks posed a significant threat to the visitors' defense. A potential penalty appeal was waved away after a VAR review, sparing Barcelona from going behind early on.


Kylian Mbappé's pace proved to be a potent weapon for Real Madrid, as he cracked through the Barcelona defense with ease, leaving the opposition struggling to keep up. Mbappé's speed and agility have been a key factor in Real Madrid's attacking prowess.


The first 10 minutes set the tone for an intense and physical encounter, with both teams creating opportunities and neither willing to back down. The pace and intensity of the game were evident, with both teams giving their all in pursuit of victory.






Out of nowhere, Real Madrid created a scoring opportunity when Barcelona lost possession outside their box. Kylian Mbappé seized the moment, unleashing a powerful shot that seemed destined for the net. However, the goal was narrowly ruled out for offside after a brief delay, sparking debate.


The incident served as a warning sign for Barcelona, highlighting the potency of Real Madrid's counter-attacks and Mbappé's clinical finishing. Despite the goal being disallowed, the play showcased the threat posed by the French forward and the vulnerability of Barcelona's defense to quick transitions.


As the game unfolded, a stark contrast emerged between the two teams' involvement. Barcelona dominated possession, completing 142 passes, while Real Madrid managed just 45. Despite Barcelona's control, Real Madrid appeared more clinical and threatening, ultimately capitalizing on their chances.


The difference in approach paid off when Jude Bellingham's brilliant playmaking set up Kylian Mbappé, who scored with a perfectly executed effort, showcasing Real Madrid's efficiency in front of goal.


Real Madrid Takes Control

The goal seemed to spark Real Madrid into action, and they began to dominate possession. Federico Valverde set the tone, engaging in six one-on-one duels to neutralize Barcelona's threats. The momentum shifted in favor of the home side, with Dean Huijsen and Vinicius Junior both coming close to scoring. Wojciech Szczesny made two impressive saves to deny them.


Barcelona struggled to find their footing, but Ferran Torres momentarily eased the pressure with a shot on target that tested Thibaut Courtois. Despite this brief respite, Real Madrid continued to press their advantage, creating scoring opportunities and keeping Barcelona's defense under pressure.


As halftime approached, Lamine Yamal's impact on the game was noticeably lacking. He had struggled to make a significant contribution, managing only three instances of winning possession. Meanwhile, Real Madrid's momentum was disrupted just before the break when Arda Güler's mistake handed the ball to Marcus Rashford.


Rashford capitalized on the error, delivering his fifth assist of the league season by setting up Fermín López, who scored with a powerful shot to equalize for Barcelona. The goal came at a crucial moment, restoring Barcelona's hopes and potentially altering the game's momentum heading into the second half.



Bellingham's Decisive Moment

Just five minutes after Barcelona's equalizer, Jude Bellingham was left unmarked in the six-yard box and capitalized on the opportunity with a tap-in, restoring Real Madrid's lead. This goal marked the seventh scored by Madrid in the 15 minutes leading up to halftime, a testament to their attacking prowess during that period. No other team had scored more goals in the same timeframe.


Barcelona's defense had conceded five goals in the same 15-minute span, a league-high. The score could have been even more lopsided if not for an offside call that denied Mbappé.


Real Madrid's defensive concerns were evident as they resorted to a back-five formation during first-half stoppage time. Despite their attacking potency, the hosts weren't entirely comfortable with the proceedings. Several Barcelona players posted passing stats above 90%, which understandably had Real worried.


Action-Packed Second Half

The second half kicked off at a frenetic pace, with both teams creating scoring opportunities within the first two minutes. Marcus Rashford once again played a key role, setting up Fermín, while Vinicius Junior showcased his individual brilliance, testing Wojciech Szczesny's reflexes with a shot.


The Polish goalkeeper then produced a stunning penalty save to deny Kylian Mbappé, after VAR ruled that Eric García had committed a handball in the box. The save was a crucial moment in the game, potentially altering the course of the match.


Barcelona continued to dominate possession, but Real Madrid's threat on the counter remained palpable. The visitors' three shots and another offside call that thwarted a Real Madrid attack hinted that they might be the ones to score next.


Frenkie de Jong's central influence was significant, keeping several Real Madrid players occupied. The Dutch midfielder completed an impressive 95.8% of his passes, the highest on the pitch, and his 72 touches with 20 in the final third outnumbered any Real Madrid player by nearly 50.


As the match entered its final stages, Xabi Alonso instructed his players to drop back and defend their slender lead, rather than pushing forward. This tactical decision was notable, given Real Madrid's struggles in winning tackles, with only 13 successful tackles out of 21 attempts.


By adopting a more defensive approach, Alonso's side invited Barcelona to take the initiative, potentially allowing them to exploit any counter-attacking opportunities that might arise. The strategy's success would depend on Real Madrid's defensive solidity in the face of Barcelona's pressure.


Substitute Ronald Araujo's decision to shoot from 40 yards with his first touch of the match was questionable, especially when he had teammates in better positions. The wasted opportunity earned him a reaction from his colleagues.




In the 89th minute, Jules Kounde had a golden chance to equalize for Barcelona. The defender cleverly beat the offside trap but opted to chest the ball, only to miscontrol it. With no Real Madrid player nearby, Kounde could have powered a header home, but instead, the opportunity slipped away.


Bitter End for Barcelona

In the 99th minute of the game, Pedri's reckless lunge earned him a straight red card, dealing a crushing blow to Barcelona's chances. Despite a strong individual display – 101 touches, 23 one-on-ones, and a game-high seven tackles – Pedri's moment of madness will cost his team dearly. The red card means he'll miss Barcelona's next game, adding to the Catalans' disappointment after coming so close to securing a draw.


Lamine Yamal struggled to maintain possession, losing the ball 21 times - the highest number of losses for either team. Meanwhile, Wojciech Szczesny made an impressive nine saves, highlighting the goalkeeper's crucial role in keeping Barcelona in the game.


Despite dominating possession with 68.5% of the ball and completing more accurate passes than Real Madrid (573 to 222), Barcelona's efforts weren't enough to secure a point. Real Madrid's players stepped up when it mattered most, securing a win that puts them five points clear of their eternal rivals.



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