Three takeaways from Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid | La Liga | OneFootball

Four Clasicos. Four defeats. Such is the deplorable record of Real Madrid against Barcelona this season and the team can do nothing but hang their heads in shame.

Sunday afternoon’s game was supposed to be different. After three defeats, it was expected to be the day Real Madrid turn up and prove a point to Barcelona and Europe that they were still among the elite.

However, they could not capitalise on the situation that unfolded and ended up losing the game by a 4-3 scoreline despite having a 2-0 lead at one point.

Kylian Mbappe was the hero for Real Madrid with a hat-trick, but goals from Eric Garcia, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha helped Barcelona take back the lead and eventually all three points.

Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid.

Mbappe steps up

Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick against Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Mbappe was the one bright spot from Real Madrid’s defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey last month and was once again the team’s best player in Sunday’s game against the Catalans.

On a night where the Merengues were once again far from their best, the Frenchman stood out as one of the team’s most reliable difference makers and went on to score a hat-trick for the men in white.

He opened the scoring early on the night, converting from the penalty spot after earning the spot-kick himself, and struck the ball with enough power to beat any goalkeeper in the game.

Just nine minutes after scoring the opener, he got on the end of a ruthless counterattack from the Galacticos and made it two on the night, giving his team a comfortable cushion.

Eventually, Mbappe completed his hat trick in the second half after a wonderful assist from Vinicius Jr. which laid it on a platter for him.

Apart from the three goals as well, he regularly threatened Szczesny’s goal and showed a better understanding of the offside trap. It may not be a reason to celebrate but is indeed a silver lining to Real Madrid’s otherwise devastating performance.

Suicidal passiveness

Real Madrid were extremely underwhelming. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

For Real Madrid to concede four goals in half an hour after going two goals up is borderline criminal, yet they found a way to do so last night in the worst possible manner.

For most teams in the game, going two goals up in a game is a factor that motivates them to go for more blood looking to kill off the game as early as possible.

Carlo Ancelotti’s approach last night, thus, appeared queer as Real Madrid seemingly intentionally got into a defensive mindset after scoring the opening two goals.

Having become overly passive and handing over the initiative to Hansi Flick’s side, it is not surprising that Los Blancos were made to dearly pay by the Catalans on Sunday. After all, Barcelona thrive in situations where they are given the possession and impetus.

The defeat only goes on to show how seriously Real Madrid need a change of style and managerial mindset heading into the new season.

Carlo Ancelotti may well go down as one of the club’s most successful managers in history, but it is now beyond clear that he has completed his cycle.

Set to go trophyless

Real Madrid will end the season without a domestic trophy. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Real Madrid’s season is still not over and will not be until their run in the FIFA Club World Cup concludes. Yet, it is difficult to digest the fact that the team is indeed going trophyless this time around.

Fans may argue that the team already picked up two trophies earlier this season by winning the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

While those trophies are handy to add into calculations of a sextuple, however, flexing them as standalone silverware does not reflect well on a team like Real Madrid.

Ancelotti’s men crashed out of the Champions League with a hammering to Arsenal, lost the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona in extra-time and now appeared to have handed over the league title to Barcelona as well.

What’s worse is the fact that the Merengues have now fallen short of the Blaugrana on all three ‘finals’ that they met this season.

The game at Montjuic on Sunday was the latest, yet perhaps the most important defeat of the team’s results against Barcelona this term.

After all, it effectively hands the title to Barcelona on a red carpet with one more win in three games now enough for them to take it home.