New Delhi: Real Madrid kicked off the much-anticipated El Clásico with a bang, as Kylian Mbappé found the net just five minutes into the match. His powerful shot inside the far post showcased his exceptional talent, giving the Madrid side an early lead and igniting hopes for a dominant performance.
However, Barcelona was quick to respond. In the 22nd minute, Lamine Yamal leveled the score with a stunning run from the right flank, skillfully cutting back and slotting the ball past Thibaut Courtois. This goal highlighted the young talent’s potential and set the stage for a thrilling encounter.
The momentum shifted when Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty in the 36th minute after Eduardo Camavinga fouled Gavi. Just three minutes later, Raphinha extended Barcelona’s lead with a brilliant header from Jules Koundé’s perfect cross. Alejandro Balde added a fourth goal in stoppage time, capitalizing on a poor Real Madrid corner, leaving the score at 4-1 at halftime.
Real Madrid emerged from the break with determination, nearly scoring when Rodrygo struck the crossbar. However, Barcelona quickly dashed their hopes, with Raphinha netting his second goal in the 48th minute. The match took a dramatic turn in the 56th minute when Barcelona’s Wojciech Szczesny was sent off for a foul on Mbappé.
Rodrygo converted the resulting free kick, reducing the deficit to 5-2. Despite this, Barcelona’s defense, now led by substitute keeper Inaki Peña, remained resolute. This victory not only halted Real Madrid’s pursuit of a third title this season but also marked a significant achievement for Barcelona, who celebrated their first trophy since last season.
After the match, Barca’s coach Hansi Flick said: “A goal for big clubs is always to win titles, that’s why we work hard. But now we have to show it in the next games. Real Madrid made many mistakes, and we knew how to take advantage of them to control the match.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, expressed his disappointment with his side’s poor performance, “In the first half we didn’t play football, we hit long balls and that wasn’t the idea. I told the players that they can lose games, but not in the way we played in the first half.”
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