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On October 26, 2025, Real Madrid defeated FC Barcelona 2-1 in the first Clásico of the 2025-26 LaLiga season at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a low shot assisted by Jude Bellingham, before Fermín López equalized for Barcelona in the 38th minute after a loss of the ball in midfield.
Bellingham scored the winning goal just before halftime, in the 43rd minute, finishing after a foul by Pedri on Vinícius Júnior.
The second half was filled with excitement, including a penalty saved from Mbappé in the 52nd minute by Wojciech Szczęsny and a late red card for Pedri for a second yellow card, which sparked brawls on the touchline between players like Vinícius Júnior and Lamine Yamal. Impact
This victory marked a crucial turning point in the eternal rivalry, breaking Real Madrid’s run of four consecutive defeats against Barcelona in all competitions from the previous season, a drought that had generated intense scrutiny of the squad. Tactically, Madrid’s precision in exploiting transitions and set pieces stood out, while Barcelona’s high defensive line was repeatedly overwhelmed from the outset.
Overall, the victory propelled Real Madrid to a five-point lead at the top of La Liga after 10 matchdays, extending their dominant run to 12 wins in 13 games this season (their only defeat was a 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid in September).
For Barcelona, who remain second but now have a considerable disadvantage, it exposed the vulnerabilities of their defense and finishing, contributing to their third defeat in all competitions this season (including a Champions League loss to PSG and a La Liga thrashing by Sevilla).
The psychological boost for Madrid under new manager Xabi Alonso is undeniable; his calm control of the game, shifting from an open first half to a controlled second, was praised as his first major statement of the match.
Barcelona’s defeat, meanwhile, amplified doubts about their title aspirations, especially following Yamal’s pre-match remarks, who was effectively neutralized by Madrid’s defense.
The immediate fallout included disciplinary repercussions: Pedri’s red card will likely result in a suspension, leaving Barcelona’s midfield sidelined for the upcoming matches and forcing Hansi Flick to reshuffle his squad.
Post-match tension escalated to a near-brawl, with Vinícius Júnior restrained after confronting Yamal over his comments, and Barcelona’s Raphinha intervening from the stands, which could lead to fines or UEFA oversight given the global attention surrounding the match.
As for the players, Mbappé’s missed penalty (one of two goals ruled out for offside) generated mixed reactions but underscored his potential (a goal and an assist), while Bellingham’s two contributions positioned him as a Ballon d’Or candidate and a possible starter for England under Thomas Tuchel.
For Barcelona, López’s equalizer (assisted during a midfield rotation) demonstrated the impact of Marcus Rashford’s arrival after his loan/debut, but defensive lapses—conceding two goals in 21 first-half minutes—could undermine confidence ahead of the Champions League matches.
Madrid, on the other hand, benefited from defensive resilience (Dean Huijsen partnered effectively with Éder Militão despite the absence of the right-backs), but Arda Güler’s error that led to the concession highlighted the risks of rotation.
Real Madrid’s advantage was based on superior individual brilliance—Bellingham’s all-around mastery (assist and goal) and Mbappé’s speed, which dismantled Barcelona’s pressure—coupled with Alonso’s tactical acumen to ease the intensity after the break and withstand Barcelona’s second-half push.
Szczęsny’s heroic plays kept the game close, but Barcelona’s wasteful efforts (e.g., Jules Koundé’s missed header) and disciplinary infractions proved costly, reinforcing Madrid’s position at the top of La Liga.
This Clásico redefines the narrative of the rivalry: Madrid’s drought is over, boosting their pursuit of the treble, while Barcelona must reorganize to close the gap. As Aurélien Tchouaméni noted after the match, “It’s only three points,” but in El Clásico terms, it is a powerful statement of intent for the season.
