Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha each found the net as Barcelona delivered a stunning 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, marking their most significant win at Madrid’s home ground since 1974.
The triumph catapulted Hansi Flick’s side to the top of La Liga, six points ahead of their arch-rivals, with an impressive record of 10 wins and one draw from 11 matches this season.
Lewandowski scored twice in quick succession early in the second half, breaking the deadlock and setting Barcelona firmly on their way to a commanding win.
His first goal came in the 54th minute after a beautifully timed pass from Marc Casadó sliced through Madrid’s defense, allowing the Polish striker to place a low shot from outside the box past a helpless Andriy Lunin.
Just two minutes later, Alejandro Baldé, darting down the left flank, delivered a pinpoint cross into the area. Raphinha cleverly drew in Lucas Vázquez, freeing space for Lewandowski to rise unmarked and head in Barcelona’s second.
The newly renovated Bernabeu was fully dressed for the occasion, as this “Clasico” drew attention from across the footballing world.
Although the days of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are long gone, the match remains a spectacle, with superstars like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior on Madrid’s side and Raphinha and Lewandowski representing Barcelona.
Real Madrid entered the match under pressure, trailing Barcelona by three points and risking a six-point gap if they failed to secure a win.
The opening exchanges revealed contrasting tactics; Madrid looked to break quickly through Mbappé and Vinícius, while Barcelona held a high defensive line, a strategy that flirted with danger given Madrid’s lightning-fast counterattackers.
Madrid’s attackers found themselves repeatedly caught offside—a staggering eight times in the first half alone.
Mbappé managed to breach the defense around the half-hour mark, slotting the ball into the net, but VAR ruled the effort offside, leaving Madrid’s fans and players in frustration.
Barcelona’s midfield trio—Pedri, Casadó, and Fermín—commanded control in the center of the pitch. Raphinha roamed freely alongside Lewandowski up front, while Baldé made effective runs on the left flank.
Koundé, meanwhile, kept a close eye on Vinícius, while young Lamine Yamal caused constant havoc on the right wing.
Madrid’s best chance of the half came from Vinícius, who broke free from Koundé and evaded young Marc Cubarsí’s defensive cover.
With three attacking options in the box, he opted to shoot but missed wide, leaving teammates Jude Bellingham and Mbappé visibly frustrated.
Hansi Flick introduced Frenkie De Jong at halftime, hoping to stabilize possession. That tactical switch paid off when Casadó’s pass unlocked Madrid’s defense for Lewandowski’s first goal, setting off a chain reaction that left Madrid reeling.
In an effort to wrestle back control, Carlo Ancelotti introduced Luka Modric, who, at 39, became the oldest player ever to appear in El Clasico.
Yet despite his influence, Madrid looked increasingly disoriented. Iñaki Peña, Barcelona’s goalkeeper, delivered a flawless performance, denying Madrid any foothold back into the game.
Barcelona capitalized on Madrid’s high-risk push forward, and in the 77th minute, the visitors struck again on a rapid counterattack.
Raphinha played in Yamal, who blasted a powerful shot into the net, becoming the youngest scorer in El Clasico history at just 17 years and 105 days, breaking Ansu Fati’s previous record.
The night wasn’t over yet. In the 84th minute, Raphinha crowned Barcelona’s performance with a beautiful goal, a curling shot that left Lunin grasping at air.
This fourth and final goal encapsulated Barcelona’s dominance and left Madrid reeling as Barcelona celebrated a historic victory, solidifying their place as the team to beat in La Liga.
