Barcelona’s two victories in El Clásico ultimately proved the difference in their La Liga title success last season, so they will know just how damaging Sunday‘s defeat could prove to be.
Despite thumping Olympiacos 6–1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night, there’s no denying that the visitors were heading into the first Clásico of 2025–26 in a difficult moment. The injury list remained lengthy, with no Raphinha in the matchday squad on Sunday, and Hansi Flick’s dismissal late on against Girona meant he was up in the Gods for this weekend’s affair.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, were emboldened by several returning players from injury in time for the crunch clash, and the mood inside the Santiago Bernabéu emitted one of vengeance. The hosts were desperate to get one over their fiercest rivals and lay down a marker, having suffered four defeats in this fixture last season.
And while the scoreline was tight, it flattered Barcelona. Madrid racked up 23 shots and a sky-high expected goals tally of 3.6. It could’ve been a whole lot worse.
Here are three Barça takeaways from their defeat in the Clásico.
