• BARCELONA RATINGS: He’s unlikely to stay Barcelona’s ‘keeper for much longer, but great save from Bellingham on 14' – though Madrid’s move was offside. Denied Mbappe three times as Barca opened a six-point gap at the top. Top performance. Booked. AP
    Inaki Pena 8/10
    BARCELONA RATINGS: He’s unlikely to stay Barcelona’s ‘keeper for much longer, but great save from Bellingham on 14' – though Madrid’s move was offside. Denied Mbappe three times as Barca opened a six-point gap at the top. Top performance. Booked. AP
    BARCELONA RATINGS: He’s unlikely to stay Barcelona’s ‘keeper for much longer, but great save from Bellingham on 14' – though Madrid’s move was offside. Denied Mbappe three times as Barca opened a six-
  • Complained – rightly – to Raphinha when he didn’t pass to him in space in a rare first half chance. But what a night in his manager’s first clasico. Stunning cross for Lewandowski’s headed goal. AP
    Alejandro Balde 8/10
    Complained – rightly – to Raphinha when he didn’t pass to him in space in a rare first half chance. But what a night in his manager’s first clasico. Stunning cross for Lewandowski’s headed goal. AP
    Complained – rightly – to Raphinha when he didn’t pass to him in space in a rare first half chance. But what a night in his manager’s first clasico. Stunning cross for Lewandowski’s headed goal. AP
  • Comfortable in the Catalans' extremely high defensive line which caught Madrid offside seven times in the first half – Mbappe was offside in six of them. Madrid were offside 12 times in total, Barcelona just one. Booked. Getty Images
    Inigo Martinez 8/10
    Comfortable in the Catalans' extremely high defensive line which caught Madrid offside seven times in the first half – Mbappe was offside in six of them. Madrid were offside 12 times in total, Barcelona just one. Booked. Getty Images
    Comfortable in the Catalans' extremely high defensive line which caught Madrid offside seven times in the first half – Mbappe was offside in six of them. Madrid were offside 12 times in total, Barcelo
  • Confident enough to play Madrid offside in tight circumstances as Barca’s offside trap worked perfectly. No team uses the offside as a weapon like Flick’s side – and they use it decisively. AFP
    Pau Cubarsi 8/10
    Confident enough to play Madrid offside in tight circumstances as Barca’s offside trap worked perfectly. No team uses the offside as a weapon like Flick’s side – and they use it decisively. AFP
    Confident enough to play Madrid offside in tight circumstances as Barca’s offside trap worked perfectly. No team uses the offside as a weapon like Flick’s side – and they use it decisively. AFP
  • The right back started slowly and was bullied by Camavinga and Mbappe but then settled and played his part in the Catalans offside masterclass. Booked for a late flip on Vinicius. Getty Images
    Jules Kounde 7/10
    The right back started slowly and was bullied by Camavinga and Mbappe but then settled and played his part in the Catalans offside masterclass. Booked for a late flip on Vinicius. Getty Images
    The right back started slowly and was bullied by Camavinga and Mbappe but then settled and played his part in the Catalans offside masterclass. Booked for a late flip on Vinicius. Getty Images
  • His pass split Madrid defence and found Lewandowski to open the scoring as Madrid’s 42 game unbeaten run came to an end. Booked. Getty Images
    Marc Casado 7/10
    His pass split Madrid defence and found Lewandowski to open the scoring as Madrid’s 42 game unbeaten run came to an end. Booked. Getty Images
    His pass split Madrid defence and found Lewandowski to open the scoring as Madrid’s 42 game unbeaten run came to an end. Booked. Getty Images
  • Tenacious, winning the ball back – before he went down with a twisted ankle on 23'. Jumped up to shoot on target on 28'. Moved into the more advanced role to replace Fermin for the second half. Then he dropped again when Olmo came on. Getty Images
    Pedri 8/10
    Tenacious, winning the ball back – before he went down with a twisted ankle on 23'. Jumped up to shoot on target on 28'. Moved into the more advanced role to replace Fermin for the second half. Then he dropped again when Olmo came on. Getty Images
    Tenacious, winning the ball back – before he went down with a twisted ankle on 23'. Jumped up to shoot on target on 28'. Moved into the more advanced role to replace Fermin for the second half. Then h
  • Barca’s first shot on target after 12'. Got the third, a right foot rising finish from a tight angle on 78' – his first clasico goal. Such confidence to try anything at such a young age. Unstoppable. AP
    Lamine Yamal 8/10
    Barca’s first shot on target after 12'. Got the third, a right foot rising finish from a tight angle on 78' – his first clasico goal. Such confidence to try anything at such a young age. Unstoppable. AP
    Barca’s first shot on target after 12'. Got the third, a right foot rising finish from a tight angle on 78' – his first clasico goal. Such confidence to try anything at such a young age. Unstoppable.
  • Only 16 touches in the first half – low for a central player and he was replaced by De Jong at the break. Missed out on the goal fest: Barcelona’s goal difference is +27, Madrid’s is +10. Barcelona have score 21 in their last five games. Getty Images
    Fermin Lopez 6/10
    Only 16 touches in the first half – low for a central player and he was replaced by De Jong at the break. Missed out on the goal fest: Barcelona’s goal difference is +27, Madrid’s is +10. Barcelona have score 21 in their last five games. Getty Images
    Only 16 touches in the first half – low for a central player and he was replaced by De Jong at the break. Missed out on the goal fest: Barcelona’s goal difference is +27, Madrid’s is +10. Barcelona ha
  • No hat-trick like he did against Bayern but another top performance. Shot well over on 20' when he could have played Balde in. Physically strong, never stopped running – Barca run more under Flick. Helped Barca counter, set up Lewandowski. Then he got the fourth. AP
    Raphinha 8/10
    No hat-trick like he did against Bayern but another top performance. Shot well over on 20' when he could have played Balde in. Physically strong, never stopped running – Barca run more under Flick. Helped Barca counter, set up Lewandowski. Then he got the fourth. AP
    No hat-trick like he did against Bayern but another top performance. Shot well over on 20' when he could have played Balde in. Physically strong, never stopped running – Barca run more under Flick. He
  • Aged 36, La Liga’s top scorer was tightly marked and had limited service in the first half (just nine touches), but he put his side ahead on 53', staying onside to score from 20 yards – his 13th goal of the season. Then he made it 2-0 two minutes later, a header. Hit the post on 65', then blasted a chance over on 68'. Impeccable timing in his positioning. Reuters
    Robert Lewandowski 9/10
    Aged 36, La Liga’s top scorer was tightly marked and had limited service in the first half (just nine touches), but he put his side ahead on 53', staying onside to score from 20 yards – his 13th goal of the season. Then he made it 2-0 two minutes later, a header. Hit the post on 65', then blasted a chance over on 68'. Impeccable timing in his positioning. Reuters
    Aged 36, La Liga’s top scorer was tightly marked and had limited service in the first half (just nine touches), but he put his side ahead on 53', staying onside to score from 20 yards – his 13th goal
  • SUBS: De Jong (Fermin, HT). More involved than Fermin as Barca’s confidence grew. An effective sub against Bayern and Madrid – two incredible results for Barcelona. AP
    Frenkie de Jong 7/10
    SUBS: De Jong (Fermin, HT). More involved than Fermin as Barca’s confidence grew. An effective sub against Bayern and Madrid – two incredible results for Barcelona. AP
    SUBS: De Jong (Fermin, HT). More involved than Fermin as Barca’s confidence grew. An effective sub against Bayern and Madrid – two incredible results for Barcelona. AP
  • (Casado 64') Needed. Linked better, improved his side. Goalkeeper Pena said that Barcelona should have been weaker in the second half after Wednesday’s efforts. They were stronger. EPA
    Dani Olmo 8/10
    (Casado 64') Needed. Linked better, improved his side. Goalkeeper Pena said that Barcelona should have been weaker in the second half after Wednesday’s efforts. They were stronger. EPA
    (Casado 64') Needed. Linked better, improved his side. Goalkeeper Pena said that Barcelona should have been weaker in the second half after Wednesday’s efforts. They were stronger. EPA
  • (Pedri 86') The seventh Barcelona player aged 21 and under. EPA
    Gavi N/A
    (Pedri 86') The seventh Barcelona player aged 21 and under. EPA
    (Pedri 86') The seventh Barcelona player aged 21 and under. EPA

Barcelona ratings v Real Madrid: Lewandowski 9, Raphinha 8, Yamal 8


Andy Mitten
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Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said he was proud of his players after they crushed Real Madrid 4-0 on Saturday, handing their fierce rivals their first defeat in 42 La Liga games and clinching the first clasico win for the Catalans since March 2023.

Robert Lewandowski was in vintage form as he struck twice in three minutes. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Raphinha completed the rout, while Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe had two goals ruled out for offside on a frustrating first clasico appearance for Los Blancos, who now trail league leaders Barcelona by six points.

Mbappe was consistently outsmarted by the visitors' high defensive line at the Santiago Bernabeu where the mood dampened as Barcelona hit four second half goals.

Flick said that he was delighted with a victory that wrapped Barca's remarkable week where they also thrashed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"I'm delighted to be working at Barcelona and to live in Barcelona. It's a fantastic job, I'm very happy. We have played a fantastic game and I am so proud," Flick, who has guided the team to 10 wins from 11 La Liga games, said.

While Real dominated proceedings early on, Lewandowski scored a quick-fire second-half double to set the leaders on course for a commanding win. Despite the feeling they were on the attack, Madrid only produced one legal shot in the first half, with Vinicius Junior dragging into the side-netting when he tried to catch Pena out at the near post.

"We pressed better with and without the ball. We had more possession and that's why the game changed," Flick said.

"The defensive effort was key. We have trained a lot how to defend with a high line and on how we want to press on the ball. It's also important not to leave spaces when you play Real Madrid because they have incredible players."

Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said his players lost their energy after the opening two goals.

"We played a first half with intensity, we could have scored (but) we lacked some accuracy," said Ancelotti.

"When they scored they hit two goals that took all of our energy away, we took more risks at the back and they found a lot more chances on the counter attack.

"For 60 minutes we competed very well and we have to forget the last 30."

Player ratings for Barcelona can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Updated: October 27, 2024, 7:05 AM