Real Madrid preserved their flawless 2025 to 2026 La Liga home record with a hard-fought win over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu, overcoming a lengthy injury list in the visitors’ camp and a spirited display from Hansi Flick’s side.
With the roof closed and the noise rising, Barcelona began on the front foot, enjoying close to eighty per cent of the ball in the opening ten minutes. Early penalty shouts for Vinicius Junior were waved away after a VAR check, a warning that Madrid’s counter threat would define the contest.
Mbappé strikes after early scare
Kylian Mbappé had a superb finish chalked off for offside before combining with Jude Bellingham to fire Madrid ahead. Xabi Alonso’s team ceded territory for long spells yet carried the greater bite in transition, with Federico Valverde relentless in duels and Dean Huijsen and Vinicius both drawing sharp saves from Wojciech Szczesny.
Barcelona levelled before the break. Marcus Rashford slipped in Fermin Lopez after an Arda Guler error, silencing the Bernabeu. Madrid responded almost immediately. Bellingham was left unmarked inside the six-yard box to restore the lead, underlining a recurring pattern this season in the fifteen minutes before half-time where Madrid are at their most clinical.
Momentum swings and a big save
The second half began at a pace. Rashford again found Fermin to test Thibaut Courtois, while Vinicius forced Szczesny into further work at the other end. VAR then awarded Madrid a penalty for a handball by Eric Garcia, only for Szczesny to deny Mbappé from the spot with a superb save that kept Barcelona alive.
NOT. ON. MY. WATCH.#laligahighlights pic.twitter.com/q7iqS4QQYL
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 26, 2025
Frenkie de Jong, operating centrally, dictated much of Barcelona’s rhythm with near flawless distribution, repeatedly pulling Madrid out of shape. Yet for all the visitors’ possession, Madrid continued to carve the clearer chances, with another Mbappé effort ruled out for offside.
Game management seals it
In the closing stages, Alonso instructed his players to drop off and protect what they had. Madrid won only a fraction of their tackles, but their compact shape, game management and counter threat blunted Barcelona’s late push. Lamine Yamal, loudly jeered throughout after his pre-match comments, had little sustained influence, while Madrid’s front line remained a constant danger on turnover.
In a match where Barcelona owned the ball but Madrid owned the moments, the hosts’ ruthlessness in key phases and Szczesny’s penalty save at the other end proved decisive to the story of a compelling El Clásico.
