Kylian Mbappe’s underwhelming first El Clasico ends in defeat

KATHMANDU: Robert Lewandowski’s quickfire double in three minutes propelled Barcelona to a 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday. This impressive win in El Clásico has extended Barcelona’s lead at the top of the league table by six points.

After 11 games, Barcelona now has 30 points, while Real Madrid remains in second place with 24 points from an equal number of matches. Real Madrid was aiming to continue their 43-game unbeaten streak at the Santiago Bernabéu, but Barcelona’s sensational second-half performance dashed that hope.

Lewandowski struck in the 54th and 56th minutes, setting the tone for the victory. Later, Lamine Yamal added a goal in the 77th minute, and Raphinha found the net in the 84th. With this performance, Barcelona has strengthened its hold in the race for the league title.

Mbappé’s Disappointing First El Clásico

Kylian Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid this summer, had previously faced Barcelona with Paris Saint-Germain. In February 2021, he famously scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the Champions League. However, he couldn’t replicate that magic in this match.

Despite his exceptional talent, Mbappé has had a slow start in Spain, scoring just six goals in La Liga so far. He went scoreless in his first three league games and is still seeking peak form. He’s not alone in his struggle; Jude Bellingham, another star player, is facing similar challenges.

Bellingham, the England international, had an extraordinary La Liga season last year with 19 league goals but has yet to find his rhythm this season.