Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid ended Barcelona’s perfect LaLiga start with a 2-1 victory in El Clasico, exposing concerns over Hansi Flick’s ability to solve problems against the strongest opposition.
Barcelona had won their first nine league matches and remain well placed at the top of the table. But their defeat at Spotify Camp Nou raised fresh questions about a side whose ambitions extend beyond domestic dominance, particularly with Champions League success the principal target.
Mbappe punishes Barcelona’s high line
Mbappe had been caught offside seven times in his first Clasico against Flick’s Barcelona, the highest total recorded by any player in a major European league in six years. This time, however, the France forward found the decisive openings and finished the match with both of Real Madrid’s goals.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said his side targeted the space behind Barcelona by using midfielders to break through the defensive line rather than relying solely on their forwards.
“It is difficult for any attackers to attack space against Barcelona, the only solution is to do it with your midfielders,” Mourinho said. “The solution is to use midfielders like [Eduardo] Camavinga and [Jude] Bellingham to break that line and it worked.”
Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities had already been exposed in a 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain, although goalkeeper Joan Garcia helped keep the score down. Against Madrid, they again struggled to prevent opponents from cutting through them.
The result does not undermine Barcelona’s impressive start or their ability to overwhelm most domestic opponents. But Inter and Atletico Madrid have eliminated them from Europe in the past two seasons, and the Clasico provided another warning that their approach must withstand the biggest matches if Flick’s side are to challenge for the Champions League.
Real Madrid’s victory also tightened the pressure at the top of LaLiga, with Atletico Madrid moving to within two points of Barcelona in second place after Julian Alvarez scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Deportivo A Coruna.
