Barcelona player ratings vs Real Madrid: Raphinha and Yamal fire Flick's men to the brink of La Liga glory in wild 4-3 Clasico
Barcelona’s explosive wide men turned Sunday’s Clasico on its head, as Raphinha and Lamine Yamal lit up a pulsating 4-3 comeback win over Real Madrid. The result leaves Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear atop La Liga with just three games remaining, bringing a potential league title tantalizingly close.
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What began as a disaster for the Catalans—conceding twice to Kylian Mbappe inside the first 15 minutes—was transformed into a showcase of offensive brilliance. Despite their rocky start, Barcelona responded with fire. Eric Garcia headed home to halve the deficit, before Yamal curled in a stunning equalizer and Raphinha capped a sensational 25-minute blitz with a relentless double.
Madrid struck first when Wojciech Szczesny clumsily brought down Mbappe in the area, who then converted from the spot. The Frenchman added another shortly after via a rapid counterattack, capitalizing on defensive lapses. Barca’s fortunes turned when Garcia’s header beat Courtois, quickly followed by Yamal’s curling effort and Raphinha's high-press-induced brace before halftime.
Although Yamal had a goal ruled out and Mbappe completed his hat-trick to reduce the gap, Barca held firm. A nervy finish saw goals from both Mbappe and Fermin Lopez disallowed, but Flick's side emerged victorious yet again over their fiercest rivals—winning all four Clasicos this season.
Player Ratings:
Goalkeeper & Defence
• Wojciech Szczesny (4/10): Slow and exposed; conceded a penalty and struggled throughout.
• Eric Garcia (7/10): Strong comeback game; scored and defended with composure.
• Pau Cubarsi (4/10): Early errors; looked out of depth against Mbappe before injury.
• Inigo Martinez (5/10): Found wanting in key defensive moments.
• Gerard Martin (7/10): Quietly effective; neutralized Guler well.
Midfield
• Frenkie de Jong (7/10): Recovered control in midfield, breaking up plays intelligently.
• Pedri (7/10): Helped shift momentum after a shaky start.
• Dani Olmo (8/10): Pulled strings masterfully, igniting Barca's resurgence.
Attack
• Lamine Yamal (9/10): Electric. Scored, assisted, and mesmerized. Madrid couldn’t contain him.
• Ferran Torres (8/10): Clinical and tireless; an essential outlet all night.
• Raphinha (9/10): A complete wing display: goals, pressing, flair. Led by example.
Substitutes & Coach
• Andreas Christensen (7/10): Provided much-needed stability late on.
• Alejandro Balde (5/10): Rusty on return but stayed fit.
• Fermin Lopez (7/10): Had a cracker disallowed, but made his presence felt.
• Hector Fort (6/10): Offered defensive cover when needed.
• Gavi (N/A): No time to impact.
• Hansi Flick (7/10): Masterminded a tactical turnaround. His attacking philosophy shone through.
Barcelona’s resilience and firepower were on full display in one of the most chaotic and entertaining Clasicos in recent memory. With Raphinha and Yamal spearheading their attack, and Flick outmaneuvering Ancelotti yet again, La Liga looks destined to return to Catalonia.
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