BARCELONA — In one of the most dramatic El Clásico in recent memory, Raphinha scored twice to inspire Barcelona to a sensational 4–3 comeback victory over Real Madrid at the Monastic Olympic Stadium on Sunday. The win edges the Catalan giants ever closer to clinching their 28th Lalita title, now holding a seven-point lead at the summit with only three matches remaining.
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| Raphinha Brace Powers Barcelona |
Barcelona, fresh from a heartbreaking Champions League semifinal exit to Inter Milan, bounced back in spectacular fashion against their fiercest rivals. The triumph marks their fourth consecutive win over Real Madrid across all competitions this season and second within the month.
🔥 Real Madrid’s Fast Start
Real Madrid stunned the home crowd with a blistering opening. Kylian Mbappé netted twice within the first 15 minutes — first converting a penalty in the 5th minute after being fouled by Wojciech Szczęsny, then finishing off a swift counterattack initiated by Vinícius Jr.
⚽ Barcelona’s Rapid Response
Barcelona quickly found their rhythm, launching a relentless offensive. Eric Garcia began the resurgence by heading in from a corner in the 19th minute. Then, Lamine Yamal, showing off his trademark flair, curled in a spectacular equalizer in the 32nd minute from the edge of the box, leaving Thibaut Courtois helpless.
Just two minutes later, a misstep by Mbappé in midfield handed Barça the ball, leading to a lightning-fast counterattack finished coolly by Raphinha, giving the hosts a 3–2 lead.
As Madrid scrambled to recover, another defensive blunder — this time from captain Lucas Vázquez — gifted Raphinha his second goal in the 44th minute, extending Barcelona’s lead to 4–2 before halftime.
🧤 Courts Heroics & Mbappé Hat-Trick
Despite trailing, Real Madrid were far from finished. Courts produced several world-class saves in the second half to keep the scoreline from worsening. In the 70th minute, Mbappé completed his hat-trick, slotting home from close range after a lightning run and assist from Vinícius Jr.
But Barcelona held on for the win, showcasing superior possession and organization throughout the match. Real’s desperate attempts at an equalizer were in vain, leaving last year’s champions on the verge of finishing the season without a major trophy.
🗣️ Reactions
“We knew how important it was to respond after the Champions League exit,” said Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal to Movistar Plus. “Suffering teaches you. Today we showed strength and focus.”
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti remained pragmatic despite the loss:
"It was a hard-fought match. We had our chances to level it. I can’t fault the players' attitude. It was a great match between two top teams."
🏆 What’s Next?
Barcelona can officially clinch the Lalita title as early as Wednesday if Real Madrid drop points against Mallorca. If not, a victory in the Barcelona derby against Español on Thursday would still be enough to secure the crown.
❓ FAQ (for Blog SEO Schema)
Q1: Who scored for Barcelona in the 4–3 win over Real Madrid?
A: Eric Garcia, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha (twice) were the scorers for Barcelona.
Q2: How close is Barcelona to winning Lalita 2025?
A: Barcelona now leads Lalita by seven points. One more victory, or a Real Madrid loss, will secure the title.
Q3: What happened in the first half of El Clásico?
A: Real Madrid took a 2–0 lead through Mbappé, but Barcelona responded with three quick goals to lead 4–2 at halftime.
Q4: Did Kylian Mbappé score a hat-trick in the match?
A: Yes.
Q5: What is Barcelona’s next match?
A: Barcelona will face city rivals Español on Thursday, where a win will secure the Lalita title., Mbappé scored all three goals for Real Madrid, completing his hat-trick in the 70th minute