Real Madrid’s legendary coach, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed frustration over the celebratory behavior of Barcelona’s bench in their 4-0 defeat during Saturday’s El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The result was a crushing blow for Los Blancos, marking the end of their impressive 42-game unbeaten run in LaLiga, while also allowing Barcelona to increase their lead to six points at the top of the table.
Barcelona’s Dominance in El Clásico
Barcelona’s clinical performance saw Robert Lewandowski netting twice, with young sensation Lamine Yamal and the in-form Raphinha adding to the tally.
The fourth goal, Raphinha’s 10th of the season, was celebrated exuberantly by the Barça bench, whose display sparked ire from Ancelotti and his team.
This display of jubilation occurred directly in front of Madrid’s bench, prompting a confrontation between Ancelotti and Barça’s head coach, Hansi Flick.
However, Ancelotti later clarified that his issue was not with Flick himself but rather with the behavior of one of his assistants.
In his postgame press conference, Ancelotti commented,
“[The problem] was with the assistant, not with Flick,” indicating that he found the assistant’s manner “not gentlemanly.”
Flick agreed, acknowledging Ancelotti’s concerns while also highlighting the often high emotions present in such intense fixtures.
Madrid’s Struggles and Barça’s Breakthrough
The game was a tale of two halves. Despite a goalless first half where Madrid appeared poised to maintain control, Barcelona broke the deadlock in the second half, with Lewandowski’s quick-fire goals turning the game on its head.
Yamal’s subsequent strike made him the youngest Clásico scorer at just 17, cementing a memorable night for the teenager.
Raphinha’s finish then punctuated Barcelona’s resounding victory, further establishing their current dominance in Spanish football.
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Ancelotti acknowledged Madrid’s decent first-half performance but admitted that the team faltered once Barcelona found the back of the net.
“Until the goal, it was an even game,” he explained.
“We had chances but weren’t clinical, and once they scored, it changed the momentum. We have to learn from this.”
A Challenging Clásico Debut for Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé, Madrid’s high-profile summer signing, faced a challenging introduction to El Clásico.
The French star had two goals disallowed for offside and was flagged eight times, equaling the highest offside tally in a LaLiga match in the last 15 seasons.
Madrid’s attempts to exploit Barcelona’s high defensive line ultimately proved unsuccessful, as their numerous offside calls underscored their struggle to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
“We took risks with his position,” Ancelotti said of Mbappé’s performance, adding that Mbappé’s close misses made a significant impact on the game’s outcome.
Despite the frustrating result, Ancelotti remained optimistic, stating that Madrid has the resolve to bounce back, referencing a similar scenario last season after a loss to Atlético Madrid.
Barcelona’s Momentum under Hansi Flick
For Barcelona, this result capped a remarkable week. Just days prior, they secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Under Flick, Barça has now won 12 of their last 14 games across all competitions, establishing themselves as one of Europe’s most formidable teams.
However, Flick was quick to temper the euphoria, noting that there’s still work to be done.
“We start the journey and we’re doing really well,” Flick remarked.
“Today was not easy, but we’re progressing.” He also emphasized the importance of consistency, urging his players to focus on the upcoming fixture against Espanyol.
Looking Ahead
With this result, Barcelona’s morale is higher than ever as they remain at the top of LaLiga, aiming to capitalize on their current form.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will need to regroup, analyze their performance, and strategize for upcoming challenges.
Ancelotti remains confident, however, that his side has the resilience to recover, encouraging fans to stay optimistic about the remainder of the season.
