Real Madrid endured a crushing 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu. Key players Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr struggled against Barca’s high-line defense, with Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha sealing a decisive win for the visitors.
Real Madrid suffered a decisive 4-0 defeat against Barcelona in the season’s first El Clasico, held at the Santiago Bernabeu. This loss marked a significant setback in their La Liga campaign, dropping them six points behind their rivals.
Barcelona broke the deadlock in the second half with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice quickly. The Polish forward first slotted past Andriy Lunin after a well-timed run, and then followed it up moments later with a header, capitalizing on Madrid's disorganized defense.
Madrid struggled to find their rhythm, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. repeatedly caught offside due to Barcelona's effective high-line defense. Mbappe thought he’d scored in the first half, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The home side's lack of sharpness in attack proved costly, as they couldn’t respond when Barca increased their lead.
Lamine Yamal added a third, smashing in from a tight angle, and Raphinha capped off the dominant performance with a late chip. Real Madrid’s defense appeared vulnerable throughout, with Lunin, Eder Militao, and Antonio Rudiger unable to contain Barca’s forwards.
Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to exclude Luka Modric in favor of a counter-attacking approach proved ineffective, leaving Real Madrid with tough questions as they look ahead to their next matches. This humbling loss underscores Madrid’s need to regroup quickly if they hope to stay in contention for the title.
