Barcelona were forced to accept Real Madrid’s superiority in the first El Clasico of the 2025/26 La Liga season. Playing at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday (October 26, 2025), the Blaugrana fell 1–2 on matchday 10, a result that highlighted the gap in consistency and readiness between Spain’s two biggest rivals.
The defeat did not come as a total surprise given Barcelona’s difficult situation. With key players such as Joan Garcia, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski all unavailable, Hansi Flick’s side entered the match far from full strength. Real Madrid took full advantage of that weakness — pressing high, defending with discipline, and controlling the rhythm of play from the opening whistle.
Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham sealed all three points for Los Blancos, while Barcelona’s only response came through Fermin Lopez. The loss now leaves Real Madrid five points clear at the top of the table, just weeks after Barcelona briefly sat in first place.
Madrid’s Maturity Exposes Barcelona’s Lack of Rhythm
Real Madrid looked sharper, faster, and mentally stronger throughout the match. They dictated the tempo and controlled possession with purpose, while Barcelona struggled to keep up. Madrid’s midfield trio dominated both the ball and the transitions, making it difficult for Flick’s men to find any kind of fluency.
Barcelona, in contrast, appeared disjointed and predictable. Their defensive structure often fell apart under Madrid’s quick passing and counter-attacks. The lack of pace and coordination between Pau Cubarsí and Eric García allowed Madrid’s forwards — especially Mbappé — to find spaces too easily.
In attack, Barcelona’s play was equally underwhelming. Their buildup was slow, transitions were late, and creativity in the final third was almost nonexistent. Without Lewandowski as the target man and Raphinha’s direct running from the right wing, the Blaugrana looked toothless in front of goal.
Another major problem for Flick was squad depth. With limited options on the bench, tactical flexibility was almost impossible. Madrid, on the other hand, had the luxury of rotating fresh legs without losing intensity or shape.
This El Clasico served as a reminder that Barcelona are still far from their ideal form. The consistency and energy they showed earlier in the campaign — particularly during their strong start — have faded after a string of disappointing results, including the defeat to Sevilla.
Rediscovering What’s Missing
Despite the setback, the season is still long, and nothing is lost yet. Ten games into the campaign, the La Liga title race remains wide open. This defeat may hurt, but it also provides valuable lessons about what Barcelona must fix to compete with the best.
Flick’s biggest challenge now is to rebuild confidence and restore the team’s intensity. Once key players like Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Joan Garcia return to full fitness, the squad should regain balance and attacking sharpness.
Barcelona certainly have the quality to compete with Real Madrid and other elite European sides. What they need is to rediscover the missing elements that once defined their identity — tempo, energy, and self-belief.
If Flick can reignite those qualities and stabilize the defensive line, Barcelona’s resurgence is still very possible. The El Clasico loss at the Bernabéu might just be the wake-up call they needed to rediscover their rhythm and rebuild the winning mentality that once made them feared across Europe.
ALSO READ :
