Barcelona 4, Real Madrid 3. Mbappé shines in vain as Barça dismantle Madrid’s illusions

Kylian Mbappé delivered a stunning individual performance at Montjuïc, netting a hat-trick that confirmed his place atop the scoring charts. Real Madrid was beaten by a better, more cohesive Barcelona team despite the brilliance of their players. His goals—electrifying, clinical, defiant—were the only lifeline for a team that once again crumbled against elite opposition.

For long stretches, Mbappé was Madrid’s sole source of threat, inspiration, and resistance. Mbappe’s early brace seemed to confirm Carlo Ancelottis preparations. Within 15 minutes, the visitors were two goals to the good, and Mbappé looked untouchable. His sharp finishes, particularly the second—a fluid move finished after a sublime outside-foot pass from Vinicius—were reminders of why Madrid had invested their future in him.

But football is still a sport of teams, and Real Madrid’s talisman was not enough to steer the team. The rest of the squad struggled to match Mbappé’s intensity or clarity. Barcelona, in contrast, roared with collective fury. They had the score flipped in 15 minutes and exposed Madrid’s weak structure and indifferent defending.

Mbappé’s hat-trick—sealed late in the match after a clever run and assist from Vinicius—was a masterclass in finishing, yet it felt almost tragic: a virtuoso solo in a concert where the orchestra had lost its score. While Barça’s goals came from a chorus of contributors—Eric García, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha—Madrid leaned entirely on their number 7, who fought on even as the game slipped away.

The contrast was stark

Barça’s attacks flowed with purpose and variety; Madrid’s relied on moments of Mbappé magic. Despite this, he almost brought them back into contention. With the match at 4-3, he chased a fourth, only to be denied by Szczęsny in a desperate final act. One of his goals was later ruled out, as was a strike from Barça’s Fermín, typifying a match that veered between the glorious and the chaotic.

Mbappé left the pitch having done everything in his power—three goals, constant movement, relentless danger—but without a point to show for it. The match may have sealed Ancelotti’s fate, laid bare the imbalance in Madrid’s squad, and boosted Barça’s title chances, but it also underscored something else: Kylian Mbappé has arrived. Not just as a signing, not just as a star—but as a force capable of reshaping any match, even when surrounded by dysfunction.

Barcelona now appears to be destined to win the Liga, as they have extended their lead by seven points after three matches. But even as Montjuïc celebrated the dawn of Flick’s era, it was Mbappé’s name that lingered—a reminder of how far Madrid can go if the team eventually learns to rise to his level.

Carlo Ancelotti with Real Madrid: the final chapter

After two spells at the helm—his second more fruitful than the first—the Italian is now preparing for his final three matches in charge of Los Blancos. The farewell tour will include matches against Real Sociedad, Sevilla, and Mallorca. Carletto will bid farewell to the Santiago Bernabéu having delivered 15 trophies to its cabinet.

Ancelotti’s last season as manager was not a successful one. Neither his methods nor fortune were on his side, with key players such as Carvajal and Militão suffering serious injuries that severely hampered the team’s path to success.

The veteran coach was aware that the campaign would not be easy. While Madrid faced perhaps the most demanding season in their history—with seven competitions and the potential to play 72 matches—the pieces simply didn’t fall into place as Ancelotti had envisioned. Ancelotti was worried that despite winning the UEFA Super Cup over Atalanta he would lose control of his dressing room.

Ancelotti, to his credit, managed to stabilize the ship temporarily. He guided Madrid to Intercontinental Cup victory and kept the team alive until March in all major competitions. Reality eventually caught up to them. Arsenal eliminated them in the Champions League and Barcelona ended their hopes of winning both La Liga as well as the Copa del Rey.

Squad moves ahead

Ancelotti, as captain of the vessel, is responsible for a large part of the fault. Ancelotti was not the only culprit. Several players failed to rise to the occasion—some simply not at the required level—while the club itself showed reluctance to reinforce a squad that had lost key figures in the summer, like Toni Kroos, and others to long-term injury during the campaign.

Even within the team, there will be changes. There will be some departures, even if there is no major revamp. Some, like those of Lucas Vázquez or Luka Modrić, seem almost certain, while others may involve players who have played a more prominent role in recent times. David Alaba for example, could be out the door if a good offer comes along.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is already in the club’s ranks. The club is actively looking for a left back, a midfielder and could even consider bringing in an experienced centre-back if a market opportunity presents itself. The youth academy will also play an important role in the future.

Read here more sports news.