Barcelona capped off a perfect week with a superb display at the stadium of their arch -rivals in one of Europe’s most classic derbies. Two goals from Robert Lewandowski and goals from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha saw Barca coast to a 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Hans-Dieter Flick became the first Barça manager since Terry Venables in 1984, to start their Clásico career with a win at the Bernabéu and he deserves all the accolades he is getting for his team following their fine start to the season.
Barca came into the eagerly anticipated match on the back of a 4-1 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the Uefa Champions league and it was a total tearing apart of the current La Liga and Champions league holder, Real Madrid in their own stadium
Following a tight and goalless first half, the Blaugrana machine was pumping full blast in the second, with two goals from the insatiable Robert Lewandowski to set things in motion, and Lamine Yamal and Raphinha finishing off the annihilation & taking Barca six points clear at the the top.
Barça lived up to their pre-game promise to give everything. They were conjuring up chance after chance after chance, with Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Raphinha coming especially close to claiming the opening goal.
Real Madrid started off in a party mood too, hungrily looking to lap up the space that Barça’s advanced defensive line was leaving open at the back but Barca built a lethal offside trap, and time and again Madrid were frustrated, including the moment Iñaki Peña made a stunning save when Jude Bellingham looked certain to score.
The frustration continued when Madrid thought they had taken the lead through Kylian Mbappé, but the celebration was cut short as VAR ruled the French striker’s effort out.
READ: Flicki-Flaka, Hammered Barcelona 8-2, Flopped At The 2022 World Cup: Who is Hansi Flick?
Perhaps Barça’s most impressive player of the whole first half had been Marc Casadó. Mature, influential, inspired… And it was he who produced the breakthrough on 54 minutes.
Out of nothing, he played Lewandowski clean through on goal. Andrii Lunin had been solid in the Madrid goal to this point, but there was nothing he could do to prevent the Pole from scoring, and Barça were a goal to the good in El Clásico!
And just two minutes later and the lead was doubled! Alejandro Balde down the left wing, delivered a killer cross to the ever-available Lewy, and the headed finish was an absolute work of art!
Following those two brilliant finishes, Lewandowski then had two far simpler chances to round off a famous hat-trick and managed to miss them both.
Madrid, fresh from a similar situation against Dortmund that they had ended up winning 5-2, still believed they could repeat the trick. Another great Iñaki save, another Mbappé goal offside, Bellingham coming scaringly close… The chances were there, but there was no question which side was on top.
Barça needed one more goal to lay to rest any chance of Real Madrid extending their 42-match unbeaten run. And Lamine Yamal was the man to provide it. With the home defence all over the place, the youngster slammed a gorgeous finish into the top right corner and that was 3-0.
And if that wasn’t enough, there was more to come! Raphinha, with the cheekiest of chipped finishes put some samba-flavoured icing on the cake. 4-0!
Additional Report: Fc Barcelona
