FC Barcelona has become the protagonist of 'El Clásico' once again. From being down 0-2 to winning 4-3, they scored four goals in just 26 minutes to overpower Real Madrid and practically confirm the league title.
Barcelona achieved a 4-3 comeback victory in the 'El Clásico' match against Real Madrid in the 35th round of La Liga for the 2024-2025 season at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain, on Nov. 11.
Barcelona, having achieved four consecutive victories in 'El Clásico' this season, has 82 points (26 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses), extending their lead over second-place Real (75 points) to 7 points. There are only 3 league matches remaining.
Barcelona operated in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ferran Torres started as the forward, while Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal formed the attacking midfield trio. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong were in midfield, with Gerard Piqué, Iñigo Martínez, Pau Cubarsí, and Eric García making up the back four. Wojciech Szczęsny was in goal.
Real also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Kylian Mbappé aimed to score, with Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Arda Güler in the attacking midfield. Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde occupied midfield, while Fran García, Raúl Asensio, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Lucas Vázquez formed the back four. Thibaut Courtois was in goal.
It started with Real. Just 2 minutes into the match, Kylian Mbappé drew a foul from Wojciech Szczęsny and converted the resulting penalty kick for the opening goal. Then, in the 14th minute, Mbappé received an out-front pass from Vinícius and finished with his right foot after a solo effort, scoring his second goal. Real led 2-0 away.
Barcelona did not easily crumble. In the 19th minute, from a corner kick set piece, Ferran Torres headed the ball into the path of Eric García, who scored again with another header to initiate a comeback. Thirteen minutes later, the balance was restored. In the 32nd minute, Lamine Yamal shook the net with a left-footed curling shot after receiving a pass from Torres. The match quickly returned to square one.
The comeback soon led to a turnaround. In the 34th minute, Pedri quickly connected with Raphinha on the left after stealing the ball from midfield, and Raphinha scored with a low and sharp shot. The game flipped in just 2 minutes. The confusion in Real's defense continued.
In the 45th minute, Raphinha took advantage of a critical mistake by Lucas Vázquez, passing with Torres before scoring with his left foot for an additional goal. Just before halftime, Barcelona led 4-2.
Real attempted to retaliate in the second half, centered around Mbappé. In the 70th minute, Mbappé calmly scored after receiving a through pass from Vinícius, completing his hat trick.
Both teams continued to engage in fierce exchanges until the end. Barcelona sought a decisive goal with counterattacks led by Yamal and Raphinha, while Real tried to create equalizing opportunities by utilizing substitutes like Muñoz. However, critical shots missed the target, and an additional time goal by Fermín López was ruled out for handball.
In the end, the match concluded with a 4-3 victory for Barcelona. It was a match where possession, number of shots, and finishing abilities shone brightly.
With this victory, Barcelona has practically confirmed the league title. With 3 matches remaining, they have a 7-point lead. If they secure just 3 more points, they will win the title by themselves. Additionally, having already lifted the Copa del Rey this season, Barcelona has only one final step left toward 'the double.'
Achieving four consecutive wins in 'El Clásico' is also a symbolic record. It has been 16 years since Barcelona won four times in a single season in 'El Clásico.' The game's performance of scoring four goals within just 13 minutes before halftime has become a symbol transcending the match itself, encapsulating the season.
Real Madrid looked to Kylian Mbappé's hat trick on that day, but lapses in defensive concentration and errors in the buildup process ultimately hindered their efforts. With the Champions League final still ahead, they must seek opportunities for a comeback.
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