For the fourth time this season, the Catalans have secured victory against Los Blancos. And now, it’s a clean sweep for the season. Barca is now just one win away from clinching the 2024/25 La Liga title, and today’s game was a massive step closer. The fourth clasico of this season was full of drama as many heroes for Barca helped them secure the win. The Blaugrana managed to get three points even due to ridiculous refereeing and VAR controversies.
A Dominant Cleansweep of Clasicos By FC Barcelona
Barca has psychologically, physically, and mentally taken over Real Madrid this season, as it’s had four consecutive wins against them. The Catalans were suddenly 2-0 down after just 14 minutes today but were once again able to claw back their way up. Flick’s side once again showed lapses in defense, as Cubarsi’s mistake cost Barca the first goal, and then another Highline counter-attack made Los Blancos lead early today.
But Flick’s team, time after time, has shown why they feast on such situations. Eric Garcia snatched one back from a fantastic header just five minutes after Mbappe’s second, and then came Yamal. The kid once again stunned Real Madrid with a left-foot curler to level the game. After this, it was more of a smooth sail for Barca as the match ended 4-3 after Raphinha completed another duo. Barca again dominated 63% of the ball and created 16 chances to Madrid’s nine. If this continues, the Clasico power balance will shift massively in the coming years.
Teenage Prodigy Lamine Yamal is Barcelona’s Present & Future
Lamine Yamal was once again decisive today as his equalizing goal in the 32nd minute stunned Real Madrid. While our rivals relied on penalties, counters and their expensive galacticos, young Yamal dictated the play through his sky-rocketed potential. He completed four key passes, terrorized Fran Garcia and Valverde and made inch perfect crosses today. Sadly they were not finished on two big occasions by Raphinha.
Yamal has been on beast mode lately and surely his impact against Real Madrid and other elite teams tells us many things. He loves to play in pressure situations and almost always delivers. Yamal is not just the future. He is Barca’s now.
Raphinha’s MVP Performance Against Real Madrid
He might not be flashiest, stylish or magical on sight. But Raphinha has character, strength and passion. His rollercoaster ride at Barca deserves this limelight, as the Ballon d’or contender once again delivered for Barca when it mattered. He slotted a cold-blooded counter attack goal to give Barca the lead tonight and then pounced on Vasquez’s mistake for the fourth. He delivered once again, at the biggest stage.
Raphinha won the man of the match award and had 8.8 FotMob rating. However, the Brazilian missed out 2 clear chances created by Yamal and the scoreline would have been totally different if he converted those chances. Still, Raphinha’s growth under Hansi Flick is nothing short of sensational.
A Last-Minute Masterpiece Denied by Cruel VAR Handball Ruling
Barcelona was literally on the verge of tying or even losing today’s clasico, as classic VAR and referee decisions did their best to make Real Madrid hang in the title race. A clear handball of Tchaoumeni was denied on VAR check, no booking for Mbappe for descent in second half and also a possible offside in Real Madrid’s first goal was not checked. Classic Vardrid?
However, the biggest heartbreak was Fermin Lopez’s goal disallowing. The La Masia wonderkid scored a sensational solo at the last minute but was disallowed due to handball during the buildup. Even though he lost the ball after the handball and then reclaimed it again to score, the pure artistry moment was stolen by VAR and the referee from Barca. The officiating was poor and biased tonight, but it’s not the first time Barca has prevailed in such situations this season.