🇪🇸 Barcelona run riot as champions Madrid handed Clásico embarrassment

Real Madrid’s run of 42 LaLiga games unbeaten ended in embarrassment on Saturday after Barcelona won El Clásico 4-0 in the capital.

Scorers: Lewandowski 54′, 56′, Yamal 77′, Raphinha 84′

All eyes were on the Santiago Bernabéu as two Spanish giants went head-to-head again. However, these particular 90 minutes of action featured one team executing their game plan to perfection while the other was uncomfortable in their own backyard.

Real Madrid indeed should have opened the scoring in the first half but were the architects of their downfall. Seven offside calls were made against the hosts in the opening 45 minutes, six of which fell on Kylian Mbappé.

Looking for his debut Clásico goal, the superstar summer signing was caught by Barcelona’s high defensive line at every opportunity. Without the injured Rodrygo, the offensive pressure fell to Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, but both were short of their usual heroics.

Meanwhile, Hansi Flick’s men’s composure decided this Hollywood fixture in a second half that was pure Blaugrana dominance.

Barcelona, who can seriously consider themselves the offside-trip kings of Europe now, remained composed and knew their chance would arrive. Then two did in under two minutes to shellshock Madrid.

Robert Lewandowski beat the defensive line for pace before calmly slotting home beyond Andryi Lunin and later embarrassed Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger to head home a second. He has 13 LaLiga goals to his name in 11 games, and he went inches wide of a hat-trick twice.

Madrid, dull and confused for the final half an hour, then conceded a third and fourth after Mbappé had a potential strike again ruled offside.

Lamine Yamal overtook Ansu Fati’s record as the youngest goal scorer in Clásico history when he rifled home at the near post for 3-0. An in-form Raphinha then ensured Barcelona walked away laughing when he dinked Lunin and Lucas Vázquez’s attempt to clear the ball instead saw him crash into the netting.

The result means Flick’s side have a six-point lead at the top of the standings over the reigning champions.