Real Madrid Triumphs Over Barcelona in First El Clasico of the Season

Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory against Barcelona in the season’s inaugural El Clasico, with key insights arising from this thrilling match.

The first encounter of the 2025-26 El Clasico series has concluded, showcasing Xabi Alonso’s tactical finesse over Hansi Flick, who was not present on the sidelines. The match was replete with controversial incidents, altercations, and multiple goals.

With this win, Real Madrid now holds a five-point advantage over Barcelona in their quest for the La Liga title, thanks to contributions from stars Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. The final score could have been even more lopsided.

Madrid started the match with fervor. Vinicius Jr. believed he won a penalty just two minutes in when the referee ruled a foul by Lamine Yamal, but VAR overturned the decision.

Mbappe found the net ten minutes later, but his goal was disallowed for offside. Fortunately for the prolific forward, he leveled the score in the 22nd minute.

Fermin Lopez equalized for Barcelona in the 38th minute, following an assist from Marcus Rashford, seemingly setting the stage for a balanced half-time break. However, two minutes before the interval, Bellingham restored Madrid’s advantage with a timely tap-in.

The second half saw no goals but plenty of drama. Mbappe missed a penalty, Pedro received a red card, and tensions flared after the match ended. Below are three significant takeaways from the game.

Lamine Yamal’s Pre-Match Bravado Falls Flat

The young winger approached the game with confidence, alleging that Real Madrid engages in deceitful tactics during matches. He stated to Ibai Llanos, owner of the Kings League team Porcinos FC on Twitch, “Yes, of course, they steal, they complain…”

However, Yamal’s words only fueled Madrid’s motivation. Throughout the game, he had little impact, registering only two shots, three touches within the Real Madrid penalty area, and six passes into the attacking third.

Post-match, he found himself in the middle of a confrontation between players, with Real Madrid’s Daniel Carvajal and Vinicus Jr. seemingly chastising him for his comments, leading to some physical exchanges.

The Future of El Clasico is English

It’s noteworthy that the standout players in this match were both English. Bellingham played a pivotal role for Real Madrid, assisting Mbappe’s goal and netting the winner, while Marcus Rashford impressed for Barcelona.

Bellingham was instrumental on the pitch, showing defensive capabilities alongside his offensive contributions, ending the match with three tackles, five ball recoveries, and being dribbled past only once.

Rashford’s assist for Lopez’s equalizer raised his tally for the season to ten goals in 13 matches across all competitions, indicating a positive shift from his time at Manchester United.

Vinicius Jr.’s Substitution Raises Eyebrows

Vinicius Jr. had a stellar match, completing five dribbles—more than any other player—along with ten touches in the Barcelona box and winning seven of his eleven ground duels. Yet, this performance is overshadowed by his antics when he was substituted.

Although his removal in the 72nd minute surprised everyone at the stadium, his reaction—refusing to acknowledge Alonso and storming off down the tunnel—was unlikely to sit well with the coach.

Vinicius’s future at Real Madrid remains uncertain, especially as contract negotiations have hit a snag due to his salary expectations. Incidents like this could complicate matters further.