Barcelona stormed to a 4-0 victory over Real Madrid on Saturday, handing the reigning Spanish champions their first La Liga defeat in over a year. With Robert Lewandowski netting twice within two minutes, the Catalan side outplayed their rivals in a memorable showdown that demonstrated Barcelona’s resurgence under manager Hansi Flick.
The first half of the game was intense, with both sides vying for control. Real Madrid aimed to use the pace of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior to break through Barcelona’s high defensive line. However, Barcelona’s defense held firm, consistently catching Madrid offside. In total, Madrid was flagged offside eight times, a testament to the discipline of Barcelona’s defense and Flick’s well-orchestrated strategy.
Lewandowski’s quick brace in the second half opened the floodgates, setting the stage for teenage winger Lamine Yamal and Raphinha to join the scoresheet. For Mbappe, who was making his Clasico debut, it was a frustrating outing. Twice, he found the back of the net only for his goals to be ruled out for offside, much to the dismay of Madrid fans at Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid, despite their best efforts, struggled to break free from Barcelona’s press, leaving Mbappe and his teammates visibly frustrated.
The win marked the end of Madrid’s 42-match unbeaten run in La Liga, just one game shy of Barcelona’s all-time record. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the sting of the defeat, saying, “It’s a hard moment, a tough moment when you lose a game, (especially after) so many unbeaten.”
Barcelona’s newfound resolve is a testament to the transformation Flick has brought in his short tenure. In snapping their four-game losing streak against Real Madrid, the Catalan side has sent a clear message: they are back in contention, equipped with a blend of youth and experience that is reshaping their fortunes. Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena reflected on the significance of the victory, stating, “We’ve shown that we’ve got the ability to beat anyone…that we’ve changed.”
Ancelotti’s game plan—defending in numbers and targeting quick breakaways—failed to disrupt Barcelona’s rhythm. Madrid’s efforts in the first half, including Mbappe’s attempts and Jude Bellingham’s shot that forced a superb save from Pena, ultimately fell short, with most plays flagged for offside.
Barcelona’s high line, although risky, was a tactical success. Flick addressed the strategy post-match, explaining, “We always play with the back four very high… it’s always like that because the referees don’t whistle, so it looks dangerous — but it’s not dangerous.”
With this dominant win, Barcelona now leads Madrid by six points, underscoring their resurgence and intensifying the La Liga title race.
