After attending my first European football match last Wednesday at the Bernabéu against Juventus, I was told that it was an incredible experience — but that nothing compares to El Clásico. The whole city has felt different all week: colder, restless, loud, expectant. You can feel the nerves and excitement everywhere. This afternoon, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona meet once again in what remains football’s most emotionally charged rivalry.
Fans began filling the streets hours before kick-off, scarves and songs turning the city into a sea of white and blue-red. Inside the stadium, the atmosphere felt like electricity waiting to be released.
More Than a Match
It is very clear that no fixture in Spanish football carries more weight than this one. Since their first meeting in 1902, Madrid and Barcelona have represented more than just two clubs — they’ve stood for contrasting identities, politics, and philosophies of play.
In recent years, the balance has constantly shifted: Madrid’s Champions League dominance versus Barcelona’s rebuild under Xavi. Coming into this match, Madrid sat 24 points in La Liga while Barcelona followed 2 points behind, adding an extra layer of pressure to an already historic clash. This time there is extra pressure considering the last results amongst these two teams. The last Clasico on 11th of May 2025 ended with a win (Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid), which means the last four times both teams faced each other Barcelona has won. With this in mind, the atmosphere will be extra tense for the Madridistas — this afternoon is a chance to change the course again.
Before Kick-Off
Madrid entered the game after their win in the Champions League against Juventus, while Barcelona arrived under a big win against Olympiakos Piraeus.
The line ups were really interesting. Xabi Alonso switched it up to a 4-2-3-1, trusting Bellingham and Mbappé to create transitions through pace and precision. While Hansi Flick countered with Barcelona’s familiar positional style, relying on de Jong, Pedri, and Fermín to keep a trustworthy midfield and with Marcus Rashford as the starting 11. Flick is coaching from the press area and not the field, as in the match against FC Girona he got a second yellow, making it a red card and a suspension.
Right before kick-off they named the line up for both teams. I have to admit, I had to cover my ears. That’s how loud the fans became… It was a moment that truly gave me goosebumps.
The Players of FC Barcelona Entering the Pitch.
The First Half
The opening minutes set the tone: fast, physical, and full of intensity. In the second minute, Real Madrid were awarded a penalty after a foul on Mbappé by Lamine Yamal. After a brief VAR review, referee Soto took another look and decided against the decision. From that moment on, the first ten minutes felt evenly balanced. Both teams shared possession and created equally dangerous attacks.
Barcelona produced the first real threat in the eighth minute when Yamal’s shot forced Courtois into action, while Madrid struggled to recover the ball for long spells. In the eleventh minute, a defensive error from Barcelona gave Mbappé a chance and he converted with a brilliant finish. What seemed like the opening goal was quickly ruled out for offside after another VAR check.
The first fifteen minutes were electric, both sides exchanging quick transitions and strong tackles. As the tempo settled, Madrid began to grow into the game and created several chances. Both Courtois and Szczęsny were tested, but in the twenty-first minute Mbappé finally found the breakthrough, giving Madrid a 1–0 lead.
Barely two minutes later, captain Valverde received a yellow card for a foul on Marcus Rashford. Barcelona responded through Frenkie de Jong, whose composure in midfield helped his side regain control inside Madrid’s defensive third. In the twenty-eighth minute, Mbappé took two consecutive corners that caused danger but did not change the scoreline.
The thirtieth minute brought chaos in midfield, with tackles flying in from both sides and the crowd noise reaching another level. Courtois made an important save from Ferran Torres before Madrid immediately countered to win a corner of their own, which Barcelona cleared. Szczęsny then denied another close-range effort in the thirty-seventh minute, but moments later Rashford found Fermín López, who finished calmly to make it 1–1.
The pace only increased. Madrid earned a corner, Barcelona launched a counterattack, and Pedri was shown a yellow card after a foul on Vinícius. From the resulting free-kick, Bellingham restored Madrid’s lead in the forty-second minute to make it 2–1. Six additional minutes were added, enough to prolong an already breathtaking first half.
As the whistle blew, the Bernabéu exhaled. Fifteen minutes of halftime suddenly felt far too short to process everything that had just happened.
Second-Half Drama
The second half began with Barcelona in control of possession. Güler quickly recovered the ball in midfield and tried to create opportunities, but his efforts were unsuccessful. In the forty-eighth minute, the Bernabéu erupted with frustration as the Madridistas appealed for a penalty after a possible handball. The VAR called referee Soto to review the incident, and after what felt like an eternity, the decision was made. The penalty was awarded, and all the pressure fell on Mbappé. His shot was well taken, but Szczęsny produced an excellent save to keep the score at 2–1.
Barcelona continued to dominate possession, looking determined to find an equaliser. Amid the pressure and noise, Frenkie de Jong remained calm, dictating the tempo and avoiding costly mistakes. The first yellow card of the half went to Huijsen for a foul on Marcus Rashford.
The next few minutes flew by as play swung rapidly from one end to the other. The tension in the stands grew heavier with every Barcelona attack, and each decision from referee Soto was met with loud disagreement from the Madrid supporters. In the sixty-fifth minute, Madrid made their first substitution. Brahim Díaz replaced Güler, who received a well-earned rest after an intense performance. Brahim made an instant impact, pressing Balde and adding energy to Madrid’s attack.
The home side started to find their rhythm again, creating more chances. In the sixty-eighth minute, it looked as if Bellingham had made it 3–1 after a clever assist from Brahim, but the goal was quickly ruled out for offside. Three minutes later, Madrid made a double substitution. Valverde and Vinícius Jr. left the pitch, with Carvajal and Rodrygo coming on to provide fresh energy. Vinícius looked visibly frustrated with the decision, walking straight to the locker room instead of taking his place on the bench.
Barcelona responded with changes of their own, replacing Eric García and Ferran Torres with Ronald Araújo and Marc Casadó. The match slowed slightly as both sides began to show fatigue. In the seventy-ninth minute, Mbappé launched a quick counterattack that resulted in a corner taken by Rodrygo, though it came to nothing. Barcelona then substituted Cubarsí for Roony in the eighty-third minute.
The physical toll of the game became evident, with both teams losing accuracy and pace. Camavinga required medical attention and briefly stepped off the pitch for treatment. Mbappé came close to scoring again in the eighty-third minute, but Szczęsny read the play well and covered his corner perfectly.
As the clock ran down, Madrid made their final substitutions, replacing Bellingham and Mbappé with Gonzalo and Ceballos. The tension in the stadium continued to rise as nine minutes of added time were announced, extending an already nerve-wracking evening for Madrid fans hoping to secure all three points and maintain their lead in La Liga.
Barcelona’s final substitution saw Balde replaced by Martín. Seven minutes into stoppage time, the Bernabéu erupted once more as Madrid won a late free kick that could have sealed the win at 3–1. It was a good attempt, but not quite enough to beat the Barcelona defence. In the dying seconds, Pedri received a second yellow card and was sent off for a late challenge on Tchouaméni.
The match ended in total chaos, the perfect reflection of a rivalry that continues to deliver emotion, controversy, and spectacle every single time.
Moments After the Final Whistle.
Final Thoughts
It still feels surreal to even write this, that I have attended my very first “El Clasico”. And what a game it was. Not just for me to watch and learn, but even more for the Madridistas who finally got to take home the win, one that they had been waiting on for a very long time. Once the whistle finally blew, the stadium interrupted into laughter, screams, pure and utter happiness. For the other half of the stadium tonight was maybe a little disappointing. Barcelona played very well, but in the end it was Real Madrid that took home the win. It will be a reminder that El Clásico never truly ends. It pauses, it reshapes, and then it returns — always louder than before
Preparing Before the Kick-Off.
