Robert Lewandowski struck twice in two minutes as Barcelona crushed rivals Actual Madrid 4-0 on Saturday, inflicting the Spanish champions’ first La Liga defeat in over a 12 months.
Teenage winger Lamine Yamal and Raphinha accomplished the rout, whereas Madrid famous person Kylian Mbappe had two targets dominated out for offside on a irritating first Clasico look for Los Blancos, who now path league leaders Barcelona by six factors.
France captain Mbappe was persistently outwitted by the guests’ excessive defensive position to the chagrin of the exasperated Santiago Bernabeu crowd, whose temper darkened as Barcelona hit 4 second-half targets.
Barcelona snapped Madrid’s 42-match unbeaten streak in La Liga, one sport wanting the Catalan giants’ all-time document, including additional shine to their triumph.
“It is a onerous second, a tricky second if you lose a sport, (particularly after) so many unbeaten,” admitted Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.
His counterpart Hansi Flick has whipped Barcelona into form in only a matter of months and in ending a run of 4 Clasico defeats, his younger facet made a press release victory to point out how far they’ve come.
“The massive targets are (fought) towards one of the best on this planet and we have proven that we have got the flexibility to beat anybody, that we have got the mentality and that we have modified,” stated Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena.
Ancelotti’s game-plan was clear — defend in numbers and attempt to spring Mbappe or Vinicius Junior with an extended ball into the area behind Barcelona’s defence.
It led to an intense however repetitive first half, with Barcelona’s defence catching Madrid offside on eight events.
Mbappe hit the side-netting and lobbed over however was offside on each events, whereas Jude Bellingham pressured an outstanding save from Pena, however it will even have been disallowed for offside.
“We all the time play with the again 4 very excessive, (concerning Mbappe’s targets), it is all the time like that as a result of the referees do not whistle, so it seems harmful — but it surely’s not harmful,” stated Flick.
On the different finish Yamal despatched a mushy effort at Andriy Lunin when put via on aim by an outstanding Lewandowski flick.
Barcelona weren’t enjoying with the fluidity they’ve demonstrated in latest weeks, culminating within the spectacular 4-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Mbappe thought he had damaged the impasse when he acquired in behind and produced a wonderful dinked end over Pena, however but once more the ahead was marginally offside and his celebration was reduce brief.
– Silence the Bernabeu –
Regardless of the sensation they have been continually menacing Barcelona, Madrid solely produced one authorized shot within the first half, with Vinicius dragging into the side-netting when he tried to catch Pena out on the close to publish.
Anticipating extra management, Flick changed Fermin Lopez with Frenkie de Jong at half-time and Barcelona quickly took the lead and by no means appeared again.
Marc Casado slipped Lewandowski via and with Madrid defender Ferland Mendy a step behind his team-mates, the Pole was onside.
The 36-year-old slotted low previous Lunin to silence the Bernabeu, and two minutes later he pounced once more.
Lewandowski headed dwelling Alejandro Balde’s cross to double Barcelona’s benefit and internet his 14th league aim in 11 video games, persevering with his gorgeous revival underneath Flick afer struggling final season.
Mbappe had a second aim dominated out for offside as Madrid struggled to discover a method again in and Pena saved out a low stinging effort from the previous Paris Saint-Germain ahead.
Lewandowski spurned two golden probabilities to finish his hat-trick, capturing towards the publish from Raphinha’s lay-off after which blazing over after good work by Yamal.
Spain’s Euro 2024 star Yamal plundered Barcelona’s third by rifling dwelling after the surging Raphinha teed him up, with Flick celebrating jubilantly within the dugout.
Raphinha accomplished the rout with a lob over Lunin to go away the Bernabeu reeling.
“We performed a primary half with depth, we may have scored (however) we lacked some accuracy,” stated Ancelotti.
“After they scored they hit two targets that took all of our vitality away, we took extra dangers on the again they usually discovered much more probabilities on the counter assault.
“For 60 minutes we competed very properly and we’ve got to neglect the final 30.”
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