Barcelona defeated arch-rivals Real Madrid four times in the 2024/25 season, but they spilled blood for the first time on Sunday as Real Madrid beat Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Kylian Mbappé broke the deadlock for Los Blancos in the 22nd minute, and Fermin López equalized in the 38th minute. However, the final word of the first half (and the entire match as it turned out) fell to Jude Bellingham in the 43rd minute.
Barcelona finished the game with 10 men as Pedri received a second yellow card in the final seconds of stoppage time.
Team news and tactical setup
Real Madrid, led by manager Xabi Alonso, is lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with Thibaut Courtois in goal. In the back are Alvaro Carreras, Dean Huisen, Eder Militão and Fede Valverde. Aurelien Choameny and Eduardo Camavinga anchor the midfield. Arda Güler, Bellingham and Vinicius Junior support Mbappe up front.
Despite Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy missing out through injury, Alonso still fielded a formidable eleven.
Barcelona set up in a 4-3-3: Alejandro Balde, Eric Garcia, Pau Kvarsi, Jules Frenkie, with Jong, Pedri and Fermine López in midfield. Yamal, Marcus Rashford
Flick was forced to make changes without Robert Lewandowski, Rafinha, Gabi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, leaving Barcelona vulnerable in transition.
Match Recap: Emotional Roller Coaster
The match started with controversy. Real Madrid were initially awarded a penalty in the third minute for a foul on Vinicius Jr. on Lamine Yamal, but the decision was overturned by VAR and ruled as an offensive foul on Vinicius. Minutes later, Mbappé thought he had scored, but another VAR check ruled out the goal for offside and chalk.
His persistence paid off in the 22nd minute. Bellingham cut through Barcelona’s high line with an exquisite through ball, and Mbappe clinically slotted past Szczesny to make it 1-0.
Real took the initiative from the start, creating an overload and forcing saves from Szczesny, who denied Huyssen and Vinicius in quick succession. Despite the current situation, Barcelona equalized in the 38th minute. Arda Güler lost the ball, Rashford pounced, and the cutback found Fermin López, who slotted home the score at 1-1.
The Bernabeu roared back to life after five minutes. Vinicius danced his way past Kounde and De Jong before whipping in a cross that was crossed by Militao and Bellingham forced it home (43rd minute) to make it 2-1. Real almost added a third goal before half-time, but Szczesny denied Mbappé again.
The second half brought more drama. Real were awarded a penalty in the 49th minute for Eric Garcia’s handball, but Mbappe’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Szczesny, keeping Barcelona alive.
Flick’s side made a move forward in the closing stages with Yamal’s excellent pass to Kounde, but a ferocious touch from the defender squandered the chance. Tensions rose during stoppage time. Pedri received two yellow cards in quick succession, leaving Barcelona with 10 men.
Vinicius Junior’s angry reaction to his early substitution added to the chaos, with police intervention required to calm the mood after a heated exchange between players.
Mbappé and Bellingham: Real Madrid’s legitimate stars
Kylian Mbappé was shocking. His goals showed blistering speed and precision, and his movements always stretched Barcelona’s high line. His confidence never wavered after missing the penalty, creating space for his teammates and inviting fouls in dangerous areas.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham served as the orchestrator. His assist to Mbappe and later his own goal highlighted his dual threat of creativity and composure. At just 22 years old, Bellingham is already a general in Madrid’s midfield, dictating the tempo and pressing relentlessly.
Szczesny’s heroics kept Barcelona alive
Despite conceding two goals, Wojciech Szczesny was without a doubt his best performance for Barcelona. His penalty save against Mbappe in the 49th minute was world class, diving low to his left with perfect timing.
In addition, the Polish veteran made five important stops, including reflex saves on Vinicius Jr. and Militao. If it wasn’t for Szczesny, they might have lost.
His performance begs the question: is he now Barcelona’s undisputed No. 1, ahead of the reactivated Ter Stegen? That’s a tough call.
Barcelona’s tactical gamble backfired
Hansi Flick’s commitment to a high defensive line was bold, but ultimately suicidal against Mbappé’s pace.
Real often exploited the space behind Kounde and Balde, forcing them to intervene. The midfield trio of Pedri, De Jong and López struggled to protect the back four, leaving an opening for Bellingham to exploit.
Flick’s philosophy of aggressive pressing works well against lower-ranked teams, but against Madrid’s firepower it felt quite lenient.
Discipline and mental vulnerability
El Clasico is always emotional, but Barcelona’s calm cracked. Pedri’s second goal in stoppage time was a symbol of simmering frustration.
Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior’s angry reaction to his substitution and off-the-pitch clashes just before and after the final whistle showed a sense of tension even in the victory.
These flashpoints are important. They can affect the harmony in the dressing room and spill over into future matches. For Flick, regaining composure and confidence is as urgent as any tactical correction.
la liga ranking
Real Madrid currently lead the table with 27 points (9 wins, 0 losses, and 1 loss), five behind Barcelona, who remain in second place with 22 points (7 wins, 1 loss, and 2 losses). Villarreal (20 points) and Espanyol (18 points) follow further behind, making this a two-horse race for now. Atlético Madrid are a distant fifth (16 points) but still have a game left, as they play away to Real Betis on Monday.
As for Real Madrid, they will be hosting Valencia next Saturday before traveling to the north-west of England to face Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League, looking to take advantage of the crisis the Premier League champions are experiencing and avenge last season’s defeat on Merseyside.
Barcelona have an arguably easier task in their next two matches, at home against Elche and away against Club Brugge.
Real’s five-point advantage means little at this stage of the season, but it could form the basis for further success in the coming months. But it can also give them a false sense of security. But perhaps both sides recognize the need to continue to work as hard as they can.