Redemption day for Los Blancos. The moment they’ve been waiting for since last year’s heartbreak has finally arrived. Madridistas fill the streets, their chants echoing through the city as they rally behind their team. Stepping into the Bernabéu, the atmosphere is electric. The stadium trembles with anticipation-whistles, drums, and roars merging into one thunderous sound. With the roof closed, the noise will be deafening tonight, setting the stage for a fierce Clásico.
In the days leading up to the match, headlines have been dominated by talk of Lamine Yamal and Mbappé, the ever-burning rivalry between Spain’s giants, and the tactical chess match between Xabi Alonso and Hansi Flick. Will Mbappé fall once more to Flick’s offside trap? Can Lamine Yamal rise to the occasion? And will Real Madrid finally avenge last season’s defeats?
Just minutes into the match, Real Madrid thought they might have an early chance from the spot after Vinícius Jr. went down under a challenge from Lamine Yamal. After a brief VAR review, however, the referee waved play on – a decision met with loud whistles of disapproval from the Madridistas.
Barcelona began to settle into possession, but a loose ball fell perfectly for Kylian Mbappé, who struck a stunning volley into the net. The celebrations were short-lived, though, as the flag went up – offside by mere inches.
Moments later, redemption arrived. Mbappé timed his run to perfection, breaking through Hansi Flick’s offside trap and finishing with precision from a Jude Bellingham assist. Los Blancos took control of the first half, dictating the tempo and dominating possession. Still, with over an hour left to play, the tension inside the Bernabéu was palpable – Madrid fans know all too well how quickly fortunes can turn in El Clásico.
Tactically, Real Madrid lined up in an unorthodox 4-4-2, while Barcelona stuck to their familiar 4-3-3. Both sides were forced into changes due to injuries: Marcus Rashford replaced Raphinha for Barça, while Xabi Alonso deployed Fede Valverde out of position, compensating for the absences of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal. So far, Alonso’s experimental setup appeared to be paying off.
As the first half progressed, Barcelona began to grow into the game. A series of dangerous efforts tested Thibaut Courtois before Fermin López finally found the equalizer, slotting home from a clever Rashford assist. But Real Madrid responded almost instantly. Jude Bellingham restored the lead just before halftime, making it 2–1 in what has already become a pulsating first Clásico of 2025.
The second half kicked off with immediate drama. Just minutes in, Real Madrid earned a penalty, offering Kylian Mbappé a golden chance to extend their lead. But to everyone’s surprise, Wojciech Szczęsny guessed correctly and denied the Frenchman. A rare miss for Mbappé this season – and one that briefly silenced the Bernabéu.
Madrid quickly regrouped, forcing a corner and pressing high, but the tempo of the game began to shift. Fouls piled up on both sides as tensions rose. Despite holding a 2–1 advantage, Los Blancos looked increasingly anxious, aware that the missed penalty could come back to haunt them. Barcelona, sensing vulnerability, began pushing forward with greater intent.
Xabi Alonso made the first substitution of the night, bringing on Brahim Díaz for Arda Güler. Moments later, Federico Valverde appeared to pick up a knock, prompting Dani Carvajal to prepare on the sidelines. Valverde, however, was able to continue – to the relief of the Madrid bench.
Not long after, Jude Bellingham found the net again, but VAR intervened, ruling the goal out for offside – the second time Madrid had been caught by Hansi Flick’s offside trap. Flick, serving a touchline suspension from Barcelona’s previous La Liga fixture, could only watch from the director’s box, but his tactical influence was clear.
In the 72nd minute, Carvajal finally entered the match to replace Valverde, earning a standing ovation from the home fans – a nod to one of Real Madrid’s few academy graduates in the lineup. Moments later, Rodrygo replaced Vinícius Jr. as Alonso looked to inject fresh energy into the attack.
Barcelona responded with a double change of their own, introducing Ronald Araújo and Casadó for Ferran Torres and Eric García. The match began to lose its earlier rhythm, with both teams showing signs of fatigue. Later, Rooney came on for Cubarsí as Flick continued to rotate his options.
With only five minutes remaining, Barcelona raised their intensity once more. The Madridistas responded with deafening whistles and chants, willing their side to hold on as the tension inside the Bernabéu reached its peak. Fights break out within the last minute as Pedri receives another yellow card, ultimately leading to his send off and a red card.
As the final whistle blew, Los Blancos officially exorcised the ghosts of last season’s painful defeats. Kylian Mbappé, despite his missed penalty, rose to the occasion and played a decisive role in securing Real Madrid’s victory. Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, struggled to make an impact, falling short of the pre-match hype that surrounded him on social media and in the press.
Xabi Alonso’s tactical adjustments proved pivotal – his bold 4-4-2 setup and the midfield partnership of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni controlled the rhythm of the game from start to finish. As the Madridistas left the Bernabéu in full voice, celebrating redemption at last, Barcelona’s fans could only watch in disappointment – a defeat that will no doubt add fuel to the fire ahead of their next encounter.
