Barcelona Humble Mbappe, Vinicius Jr And Co In 4-0 El-Clasico Thrashing Of Real Marid
- Lewandowski is the king as Yamal, Raphinha complete humiliation
Polish International, Robert Lewandowski’s brace early in the second half inspired FC Barcelona to a famous 4-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu to send them six points clear in La Liga.
The headlines went wild screening how Lewandowski showed Kylian Mbappe, the misfiring and frustrated Real Madrid star the way things are done in his Clasico debut. Indeed, the Pole turned in a masterclass lesson in finishing while his French counterpart fell short of ideas in Barcelona’s emphatic Clasico win
While Lewandowski banged in goals at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night for Barca, his opposite number was guilty of squandering countless chances. It was a day that the 36-year-old goal poacher showed Mbappe, a man 10 years his junior, just how a Number 9 should play with flair in attack and clinical finishing
It was clear from the start that tactics were going to play a big part in this one, with Hansi Flick’s high defensive line catching Madrid offside seven times in the opening 30 minutes alone. That included a goal for Kylian Mbappe being chalked off. There was a similar moment at 2-0 in the second half.
The space behind the back four was a source of potential danger to Barca. But they were able to create their chances, with a one-on-one for Lamine Yamal and a strike from distance from Pedri, both saved by Andriy Lunin, the closest they came to scoring before half-time.
Where Barca had been able to routinely catch Madrid offside, Lewandowski beat the trap 10 minutes into the second half and stroked the ball into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Lunin.
The Pole showcased his generational striker instincts only two minutes later when he planted an unstoppable header into the same corner. This, after mostly being on the periphery until then.
The foot of the post denied the Pole his hat-trick, in isolation a poor miss with an open goal at his mercy after a square pass from Raphinha, but it mattered little when Yamal slammed in a stunning third and a route one ball over the top handed Raphinha a fourth.
No doubt, Carlo Ancelotti’s men were humbled by their biggest rivals at home and made to pay for their lack of cutting-edge.
This was a real humbling given the interesting call made by the Italian manager to leave out Modric in a mostly defensive setup – relying on his pace on the counter. His side were battered, though, and face real questions now. – With agency reports
