Despite Kylian Mbappé's best efforts, his two goals couldn’t save Real Madrid from a humbling 4-0 defeat against Barcelona in a high-stakes El Clásico showdown. Playing in front of a packed Santiago Bernabéu, Mbappé showcased his signature speed and clinical finishing, managing to find the net twice amid a relentless Barcelona defence.
Many expected Real to enter this match flying high after their Champions League victory midweek, where Vinicius Jr's hat-trick secured a superb comeback win over Dortmund.
Yet, the night was marked as much by Mbappé’s highlights as his struggles. The French forward, who put pen to paper at Los Blancos in the summer, was flagged offside eight times, a record number for any El Clásico in recent years, as he continually tested Barcelona’s high defensive line.
Frustration grew as Madrid’s forwards, spearheaded by Mbappé, found themselves caught out, unable to break down a disciplined Barcelona backline led by young stars like Alejandro Balde.
Barca’s tactical setup forced Madrid to rely heavily on Mbappé’s runs, but the high line kept him just enough off-balance to neutralise his usual explosive impact. In the first half, Madrid were better but failed to score goals as Vini Jnr and others squandered.
In the second half, the Blaugrana took full advantage of Madrid’s impatience and defensive lapses, with Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha capitalising on the host’s high press to net four unanswered goals.
Despite Mbappé's impressive efforts, his struggles to connect with his teammates highlighted a larger issue within the squad: a reliance on individual brilliance over cohesive team play.
This reliance was further emphasised by the performance of Jude Bellingham, another marquee player whose displays have also raised questions and drawn criticism. Bellingham has struggled to find the form that saw him leave Madrid fans on the edge of their seats last season, leading to all sorts of rumours.
According to Spanish tabloid Marca, he has become a “shadow of his former self,” with critics pointing to Carlo Ancelotti’s management as a contributing factor. Tactical missteps and positional changes have left Bellingham unable to fully express his abilities, mirroring the disconnect seen in Mbappé’s performance.
Rather than building on their strengths, Ancelotti’s approach has seemingly left both players uncertain and ineffective within the Real Madrid system, raising concerns among fans and analysts alike about whether they can recover their spark and help restore Madrid's dominance.
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