Barcelona pulled off a dramatic first-half comeback to defeat Real Madrid 4-3 in an electrifying El Clasico, moving a step closer to securing the La Liga title and overcoming a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe in the process.
Mbappe wasted no time, scoring twice within the opening 14 minutes—including a penalty he earned after a foul by goalkeeper Szczesny—and added a third in the second half, setting a record as Real Madrid’s highest-scoring debutant with 39 goals in his first season.
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Despite the early setback, Barcelona responded with a stunning 25-minute attacking burst before halftime. Eric Garcia began the revival, Lamine Yamal followed with a spectacular curling strike, and Raphinha scored twice, taking full advantage of Real’s shaky defense.
Mbappe’s third goal gave Madrid a lifeline, and they nearly equalized in the dying minutes, but Barcelona held firm. Fermin Lopez appeared to score a fifth, but it was disallowed by VAR due to a handball in the buildup.
With the victory, Barcelona now sit seven points clear at the top of La Liga with just three matches remaining. A win against Espanyol on Thursday will crown them champions, regardless of Real Madrid’s result versus Mallorca.
This triumph also marks Barcelona’s fourth win over Real Madrid this season—a rare accomplishment last seen in the 1982–83 campaign—having already beaten their rivals in La Liga, the Super Cup final, and the Copa del Rey final.
Seventeen-year-old Lamine Yamal was named Player of the Match for his goal and assist in what could be a season-defining performance for Hansi Flick’s side.
