ReutersFrenkie de Jong applauds goalscorer Lewandowski
NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 22:53
FC Barcelona has won the 258th edition of El Clásico very convincingly. The Catalan team humiliated arch-rival Real Madrid 4-0 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
It is not the biggest away win for Barcelona in El Clasico. Half a century ago, in 1974, a brilliant Johan Cruijff led the Catalan club in Madrid to a 5-0 victory over Real Madrid.
With the victory, Barcelona has significantly strengthened its lead in La Liga. After eleven rounds, coach Hansi Flick’s team has six points more than Real Madrid, which is second.
NOSThe score in La Liga on Saturday, October 26
Frenkie de Jong started on the bench at FC Barcelona. The midfielder is calmed down after his long-term ankle injury and replaced Fermin López at half-time. He wore the captain’s armband in the second half.
The Spanish star has entered a new phase. After three years of Xavi, Flick has had a new coach at the helm of Barcelona since this summer, while Real Madrid has top striker Kylian Mbappé at its disposal for the first time this season.
Although Mbappé scored six times in his first nine competition matches in the shirt of ‘the Royal’, the 25-year-old Frenchman has not yet been able to fully live up to the sky-high expectations.
To trust
Coach Carlo Ancelotti stood up for him at a press conference in the run-up to the Spanish top match. “He is slowly looking for the best version of himself. We have a lot of confidence in him and I expect him to be important during El Clásico.”
Mbappé seemed to fulfill his trainer’s prediction in the thirtieth minute by placing the ball in the goal with a thoughtful marker over goalkeeper Inaki Pena. The goal was canceled after it turned out that the attacker had received the ball in an offside position.
The same thing happened to the fast striker again halfway through the second half, when Barcelona now took a 2-0 lead. This time he shot the ball into the far corner after a through ball, but he seemed to already realize that this goal would also be disallowed for offside.
Good side of VAR line
Ten minutes earlier, Robert Lewandowski was on the right side of the VAR line. The striker had plenty of space after he had reacted exactly on time – half a foot apart – to a through ball from Marc Casadó. The Pole then made it 1-0 with a low shot in the corner.
ReutersRobert Lewandowski celebrates his goal in El Clasico
Just over two minutes later, Lewandowski headed a high cross into the goal between two defenders. They were his thirteenth and fourteenth league goals of the season.
No hat trick
Even at the age of 36, Lewandowski continues to make a difference for his team every week. The crafty striker could have easily scored his second hat-trick of the season. In the 66th minute he had the ball on a pass from Raphinha to tap in, but to his own disbelief he hit the post of the empty goal.
On the other hand, Jude Bellingham had the opportunity to bring the tension back into the game on behalf of Real Madrid, but the Englishman misjudged a cross and was unable to control the ball from close range.
It was Lamine Yamal who put an end to all illusions of the home team. The 17-year-old attacker, who wore a brace with stars in the colors of his club for El Clasico, scored the 3-0 in the 77th minute with a convincing shot into the top corner.
Pro ShotsLamine Yamal shows off his braces
The assist came from Raphinha, who scored the fourth goal of the evening six minutes before the end. The Brazilian defeated Lucas Vázquez in a sprint duel and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Andrij Loenin into the goal.
The 4-0 was the final result of a humiliation of the major competitor, which sees Barcelona continue to advance in the championship battle. The message for title holder Real Madrid was clear: title renewal is going to be a hell of a job.
