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Kylian Mbappe endured an evening to overlook as Actual Madrid have been hammed 4-0 by Barcelona in his first El Clasico on Saturday night time.
Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect got here into the tie boasting a 44-game unbeaten residence file however they confronted a decided Blaugrana outfit, expertly drilled in defence and devastating in assault.
Targets from Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and a brace from Robert Lewandowski inflicted a painful defeat on the defending champions and breathed new vitality into Hansi Flick’s challenge in Catalonia.
The German boss, appointed in the summertime to exchange membership legend Xavi, was identified to undertake an uber-offensive strategy throughout his time within the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. That crew relied on the tempo of Alphonso Davies to bail them out of bother when forwards bumped into the ocean of area his excessive line of defense had created.
In Barcelona it seems Flick is ready to profit from the identical technique as a result of the his aspect’s defensive self-discipline. On Saturday night time, the guests caught Madrid’s array of attackers offside too many time to quantity.
Mbappe had the ball behind the Barcelona internet on two events however it matter not because the official dually raised his flag to point he had once more been performed by the Blaugrana defence.
Apart from his profitable finishes, the Frenchman had numerous extra situations the place he was discovered past the final defender when a by ball had been delivered.
He was not the one wrongdoer. Vinicius Jr, Madrid’s savior in midweek after they trailed Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at half-time, had a uncommon off night time. Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect have been lacking the electrical Rodrygo by harm and his absence was keenly felt as the house aspect scratched round for inspiration because the match drifted away.
The primary half has been a reasonably even affair, with Madrid beginning the higher of the 2 groups earlier than Barcelona grew in confidence and commenced to string some lovely passing sequences collectively.
That considerably passive existence made manner for penetrative aggression after the interval when Robert Lewandowski netted his thirteenth LaLiga objective of the season, having triggered Madrid’s flimsy offside entice and curled a pinpoint shot across the helpless Andriy Lunin.
The 36-year-old doubled his tally and the customer’s lead with an beautiful header from the sting of the six-yard field simply two minutes later. Fullback Alejandro Balde offered an ideal cross that also wanted some work to finish up behind the web.
That Lewandowski produced simply the reply present how his generational powers have been restored below his former Bayern boss. The much less mentioned about his point-blank miss the higher. That merely served to proved he’s human.
