Real Madrid emerged victorious in the latest edition of El Clásico, defeating Barcelona 2-1 in a high-stakes La Liga Week 10 showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday night (October 26, 2025). The goals for Los Blancos came from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, while Barcelona’s lone response was delivered by Fermin López.
This result further strengthened Xabi Alonso’s men at the top of the La Liga table with 27 points — five clear of second-placed Barcelona. Yet beyond the scoreline, the match told a deeper story: Real Madrid were disciplined, ruthless, and tactically superior, while Barcelona looked lost, disorganized, and fragile under pressure.
Real Madrid’s Tactical Perfection
From the first whistle, Real Madrid showcased a well-structured game plan. Their defensive line was compact, their midfield composed, and their attack devastatingly effective. Every move was calculated, every transition purposeful.
Unlike Barcelona, who relied on possession without penetration, Madrid demonstrated the value of efficiency. Alonso’s men knew when to press, when to drop deep, and how to strike with precision. They exploited every inch of space left behind Barcelona’s high defensive line — a tactical weakness that has haunted Hansi Flick’s team all season.
With Tchouaméni dictating tempo, Camavinga breaking lines, and Bellingham connecting play between midfield and attack, Madrid looked like a machine in perfect rhythm. When they had the ball, they controlled the game. When they didn’t, they knew exactly how to disrupt Barcelona’s buildup play.
Barcelona’s Defensive Meltdown: The Root of Their Problems
This defeat once again underlined Barcelona’s biggest weakness — their fragile defensive structure. The high line employed by Flick proved suicidal against a Madrid side built for quick transitions. Every time the Blaugrana defenders pushed up, Madrid patiently waited to exploit the space behind them.
Pau Cubarsí and Eric García, the central defensive duo, were constantly exposed. While both are capable ball-players, they struggled to cope with Madrid’s pace and movement. Kylian Mbappé repeatedly found gaps between them, while Bellingham roamed freely in midfield, unmarked and unchallenged.
On the right flank, Jules Koundé endured a torrid night trying to contain Vinícius Jr. The Brazilian winger frequently outpaced him, cutting inside and creating dangerous openings. The defensive line looked disjointed, communication broke down, and Barcelona’s back four resembled a team without confidence or coordination.
Hansi Flick’s Dilemma: Time to Adjust or Risk Collapse
For Hansi Flick, this loss raises serious tactical questions. His insistence on maintaining a high defensive line might work in theory, but in practice, it’s leaving Barcelona exposed time and again — especially against elite teams with pace and precision like Real Madrid.
Flick’s philosophy emphasizes aggressive pressing and positional dominance, but without balance and defensive discipline, it becomes a liability. Barcelona are too easy to break down in transition, and their defenders lack the speed to recover once beaten.
If Barcelona want to compete for the La Liga title or make a deep run in Europe, Flick must rethink his defensive strategy. Whether that means tweaking the formation, introducing a deeper line, or reshuffling personnel, change is no longer optional — it’s essential.
A Wake-Up Call for Barcelona
Barcelona’s current issues go beyond tactics — they stem from mentality and identity. The Blaugrana are known for intelligent football, built on control, structure, and collective understanding. But against Madrid, they looked like a side without a clear defensive purpose.
If the same vulnerabilities persist, Barcelona risk losing not only the league title but also their trademark identity as a team renowned for tactical brilliance and composure. For now, Real Madrid have shown the world the stark contrast between a side that’s evolving under Xabi Alonso and another still searching for balance under Hansi Flick.
ALSO READ :
