Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid (Mbappé x2). A huge win for Real Madrid… This is the immediate analysis to the late victory. Be sure to catch: Player ratings, Mourinho’s quotes and an El Clásico special podcast.
The biggest game in the world was upon us, and the hardest of Real Madrid’s schedule so far this season. Vinícius Júnior was suspended, and Thibaut Courtois had pulled out that morning due to flu. That meant that Andriy Lunin and Yan Diomande were in, joined by the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Jude
Bellingham. Fede Valverde costumed the team for El Clásico.
A slower start than usual for a Clásico perhaps went in Madrid’s favour – although Barcelona had the first decent chance of the game through Anthony Gordon. Kylian Mbappé would score the first goal though, after Yan Diomande got the ball into the box. The goal itself was really just a case of right place, right time however – as a clearance connected with Kylian before flying into the goal. The Frenchman would then hit the post from an offside position, before Diomande would shoot just wide as Madrid finished the first-half strong. 1-0 at the break.
The second-half also started as Madrid would like: slow and steady. Barcelona would find an equaliser through Raphinha, though. Arda Güler would try to bite back, before Andriy Lunin would pull off a save that even the great Thibaut Courtois would struggle to emulate. Just as the hosts were creeping back into the game, some amazing work from Eduardo Camavinga opened them up and allowed Kylian Mbappé to score his second late on. Barcelona looked slumpedX and Real Madrid managed to confirm the superb 2-1 victory. Has this been the best performance of the season so far?
