Barcelona Thrashes Real Madrid in El Clasico with Hansi Flick's Tactical Brilliance
Kylian Mbappe, making his El Clasico debut, struggled to make an impact and had a goal disallowed by VAR after being caught offside multiple times. Despite a promising start for Madrid, they failed to capitalize on early chances.
Lewandowski Shines as Barcelona Dominates 4-0
In a stunning display, Barcelona dismantled Real Madrid 4-0 at the Bernabeu, ending Madrid's impressive 42-game unbeaten streak in La Liga. Robert Lewandowski was the star of the match, scoring twice to bring his season total to 14 goals. He opened the scoring in the 54th minute and added a second just two minutes later, before Lamine Yamal and Raphinha sealed the emphatic victory.
Flick's Tactical Changes Pay Off
After the match, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s adjustments, especially the high defensive line that he employed. “The defense was high up. It seems dangerous and risky, but it worked,” he said. Flick noted the importance of the tactical changes made at halftime, which allowed Barcelona to dominate possession in the second half.
Other Notable Matches in La Liga
In other La Liga action, Ayoze came off the bench to secure Villarreal's 2-1 win over Real Valladolid, lifting them into third place. Rayo Vallecano edged past Alaves 1-0, thanks to an own goal by goalkeeper Antonio Sivera, who unfortunately redirected a shot off the post into his own net.
Bundesliga Highlights
In the Bundesliga, Werder Bremen held Bayer Leverkusen to a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Romano Schmid equalizing in the last moments. Victor Boniface scored for Leverkusen, while Felix Agu's own goal briefly gave them the lead again.
Serie A and Ligue 1 Roundup
In Serie A, Napoli's captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored the decisive goal in a narrow 1-0 win against Lecce. Atalanta cruised to a 6-1 victory over Verona, with Ademola Lookman and Mateo Retegui both scoring twice.
Meanwhile, Lille clinched a last-minute 2-0 victory at Lens, thanks to stoppage-time goals from Jonathan David and Mohamed Bayo. In a thrilling match, Angers defeated St Etienne 4-2, with goals from Himad Abdelli, Jean-Eudes Aholou, Ibrahima Niane, and substitute Bamba Dieng, despite St Etienne twice leveling the score.
This round of matches showcased thrilling moments across Europe's top leagues, with Barcelona's dominant performance stealing the spotlight.
