Barcelona Stuns Real Madrid In A Classic El Clásico Battle – 261st Edition Ends In Glory

‎Barcelona staged a stunning comeback to beat arch-rivals Real Madrid 4-3, crucially positioning themselves closer to an awaited La Liga title.

‎While also consolidating their dominance over Los Blancos in recent finals, having already secured victories in the Supercopa de España and Copa del Rey.

‎Madrid Strikes Early

‎From the start, Real Madrid demonstrated their intent to make a statement, pressing high and showing offensive ambition. Their effort was rewarded early when a mistake from Pau Cubarsi was swiftly capitalized upon by Kylian Mbappé.

‎The French star was fouled by Wojciech Szczęsny inside the box, earning Madrid a penalty just five minutes into the game. Mbappé confidently dispatched the spot-kick, despite Szczęsny getting a hand to the ball, giving Los Blancos an early lead.

‎Not content with the opener, Mbappé doubled Madrid’s advantage shortly after, just before the 15-minute mark. A beautifully timed through-ball from Vinícius Júnior found Mbappé in behind the defense, and the Frenchman kept his composure to slot past Szczęsny, as the Madrid faithful hoped for a runaway victory.

‎Barcelona Responds

‎However, Barcelona’s response was quick and composed. Thibaut Courtois made an impressive save to deny Lamine Yamal and Gerard Martín, but there was little he could do when Eric García rose highest to head in Dani Olmo’s corner, bringing the Catalans back into the game.

‎In what would become a highlight moment, 17-year-old Yamal showed remarkable composure and technique, curling a precise shot into the bottom corner after receiving Ferran’s lay-off. His goal leveled the score and signaled the start of an electrifying spell of attacking football from the visitors.

‎Raphinha’s Clinical Finishes

‎Barcelona’s relentless surge paid off when a defensive error by Madrid allowed Raphinha to capitalize, racing onto Pedri’s through-ball and calmly beating Courtois for their third goal in just over 15 minutes. The Ancelotti-led Madrid side appeared stunned but continued to push forward.

‎Madrid’s frustration was visible as they saw a second penalty appeal turned down after a challenge on Vinícius Júnior was deemed fair. The narrative shifted again when Raphinha capitalized once more, exploiting a late mistake by Lucas Vázquez to fire in his second and put Barça ahead at 4-2.

‎Controversies and Goals

‎As the first half drew to a close, Mbappé had a goal ruled out for offside a decision that intensified debate around the game’s officiating. Referees faced the challenge of controlling high-intensity moments, which continued after the break.

‎Madrid made tactical changes, but the flow of the game remained dynamic. Yamal thought he’d added his second when he nodded in Ferran Torres’s cross, but another offside flag nullified the effort.

‎Moments later, Mbappé came agonizingly close to completing his hat-trick, with Szczęsny making a vital save to deny him.

‎Madrid’s star forward eventually scored his third when Vinícius raced onto Luka Modrić’s pass and rolled the ball across for Mbappé to easily convert. The French striker’s hat-trick brought Madrid back within one, heightening tension on both sides.

‎Final Whistle

‎Although Raphinha missed a golden opportunity to extend Barcelona’s lead, the game’s late stages remained tense and dramatic. Yamal and Ferran Torres were both denied by sharp saves from Courtois.

‎Fermín López scored a late goal that was disallowed for handball, and despite Madrid’s efforts to rally, the La Liga giants couldn’t break down the resilient Barcelona defense.

‎Impact

‎With this win, Barcelona extends their lead atop La Liga to seven points with just three matches remaining. A victory in any of these would seal the league title for the Blaugrana, bringing them one step closer to completing their treble a feat of remarkable achievement considering their recent form.

‎Additionally, this victory marks Barcelona’s third major final win over Madrid this season, further cementing their dominance in head-to-head contests and demonstrating a new era of confidence and skill in Catalonia.