Robert Lewandowski struck twice in three minutes as Barcelona crushed rivals Real Madrid 4-0 on Saturday, hitting the Spanish champions first The league defeat for more than a year.
Teenage wing Lamine Yamal and Rafinha completed the rout while Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe had two goals ruled out for offside in a disappointing first Classico game for Los Blancos, who now trail league leaders Barcelona by six points.
France captain Mbappe was constantly outwitted by the visitors’ tall defensive line much to the chagrin of the exasperated Santiago Bernabeu a crowd whose spirits dimmed when Barcelona scored four goals in the second half.
Barcelona ended Madrid’s 42-game unbeaten run in La Liga, one game short of the Catalan giants’ all-time record, adding further luster to their triumph.
Hansi Flick has whipped Barcelona into form in just a few months and, ending a run of four Clasico defeats, his young side produced an emphatic win to show how far they have come.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti opted for more muscle in midfield, opting for Eduardo Camavinga ahead of Luka Modric, with his team’s plan clear – defend in numbers and try to fire Mbappe or Vinicius with a long ball into space behind the tall defensive line of Barcelona.
This led to an intense but repetitive first half, with Barcelona’s defense ambushing Madrid on eight occasions.
Mbappe hit the side netting and shot but was offside on both occasions, while Jude Bellingham forced a great save from Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena, but that too would be ruled out for offside.
At the other end, teenage Barcelona star Yamal sent a soft shot past Andriy Lunin after being marked on goal by Lewandowski’s superb strike.
Rafinha scored and Lunin also saved from the Brazilian winger, but Barcelona did not play with the fluidity they have shown in recent weeks, culminating in an impressive 4-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Mbappe thought he had broken the deadlock when he got in behind and curled a fine finish over Pena, but again the striker was narrowly ambushed and his celebrations were cut short.
Silence the Bernabeu
Despite feeling like they were constantly threatening Barcelona, Madrid managed just one proper shot in the first half, with Vinicius drifting into the side-netting as he tried to catch Pena at the near post.
Eager for more control, Flick replaced Fermin Lopez with Frenkie de Jong at half-time and Barcelona soon took the lead.
Casado slotted past Lewandowski and with Madrid defender Ferland Mendy a step behind his teammates, the Pole was onside.
The 36-year-old slotted low past Lunin to silence the Bernabeu before pouncing again two minutes later.
Lewandowski headed in Alejandro Balde’s cross to double Barcelona’s advantage and score his 14th league goal in 11 games, continuing his stunning revival under Flick after struggling last season.
Mbappe was disallowed for a second goal for offside as Madrid struggled to find a way back, and Pena kept out the former Paris Saint-Germain forward’s low shot.
Lewandowski missed two golden chances to complete his hat-trick, firing against the post from Rafinha’s break and then blazing after good work from Yamal.
Spain’s Euro 2024 star Yamal robbed Barcelona of a third by slotting home after the surging Rafinha equalized and Flick celebrated jubilantly in the hole.
Rafinha completed the rout with a header over Lunin, leaving the Bernabeu reeling.
