Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona: Key Points from First 2025/26 ‘El Clasico’

Barcelona suffered a setback in their rivalry with Real Madrid as they fell 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Los Blancos in the 22nd minute, only for Fermín López to equalize for Barcelona in the 38th. However, Jude Bellingham’s goal just before halftime proved to be the winner for Real Madrid.

The match saw Barcelona finish with 10 men after Pedri received a second yellow card in stoppage time, adding to the drama of the encounter.

Real Madrid, managed by Xabi Alonso, lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Thibaut Courtois in goal and a strong lineup despite missing key players due to injuries. Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, deployed a 4-3-3 formation but were without several key players, leaving them vulnerable on transitions.

The game was filled with controversy early on, with VAR overturning a penalty decision for Real Madrid and ruling an offensive foul against Vinícius Jr. Mbappé eventually broke the deadlock for Real Madrid before Barcelona equalized through Fermín López. Bellingham’s goal just before halftime proved decisive for Real Madrid.

Despite conceding twice, Wojciech Szczęsny put in a heroic performance for Barcelona, making crucial saves throughout the match to keep his team in contention.

Barcelona’s tactical gamble of playing a high defensive line backfired against Real Madrid’s pace, allowing them to exploit space behind the defense. The lack of midfield protection also left gaps for Real Madrid to capitalize on.

The match was not short of drama, with tensions boiling over on the pitch and off it. Barcelona’s discipline was called into question, while Real Madrid also showed signs of mental fragility despite their victory.

Real Madrid now sit at the top of the La Liga standings with a five-point lead over Barcelona. Both teams have challenging fixtures ahead, with Real Madrid facing Valencia and Liverpool in their next matches, while Barcelona take on Elche and Club Brugge.

The rivalry between the two Spanish giants is set to continue as they push each other for success in the coming months.