Real Madrid are set to host FC Barcelona on October 26th, five months after the last ELCLASICO between the two LALIGA EA SPORTS giants. In what was one of the most entertaining match-ups of the past few years, Barça grabbed a 4-3 home victory to practically end Los Blancos’ hopes of winning the league. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
An exciting title race had seen Real Madrid cut the distance to FC Barcelona to just four points heading into the last ELCLASICO of the 2025/26 campaign. Hence, a potential win in Catalonia would have brought Carlo Ancelotti’s side to within one point with three games to go, with FC Barcelona’s schedule for the run-in looking a little trickier. But, Barça prevailed to take all three points at the end of a thriller.
FC Barcelona’s dominance in last seasons ELCLASICO meetings
FC Barcelona were heading into May’s ELCLASICO on the back of three straight victories against their fierce rivals across all competitions. A 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in the league was followed by a 5-2 win in the Spanish Super Cup final. The two sides also faced each other in the Copa del Rey decider, just a few weeks before the last league derby of the season. Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni netted one each to cancel out Pedri’s first-half opener, but Ferran Torres scored an equaliser that sent the game to extra time, where a late Jules Koundé winner sealed it for FC Barcelona.
Real Madrid’s strong start to the game
Despite being dealt with a blow in morale in the cup final, Real Madrid hit the ground running in May’s league derby. Mbappé, who finished last season as the Pichichi Trophy winner with as many as 31 league goals in his first season for Los Blancos, caused havoc to FC Barcelona’s defence in the opening stages. The Frenchman was brought down by Wojciech Szczesny in the box and converted from the spot, putting Real Madrid ahead just five minutes in. It took Mbappé just nine minutes to find the back of the net again, with Vinícius setting up his teammate, who doubled the visitors’ lead.
The Catalans turned the game around
Yet, FC Barcelona pulled one back through Eric García, who headed home a corner kick by Ferran Torres in the 19th minute. Then, the hosts netted twice in the space of just two minutes after the half-an-hour mark. Ferran Torres bagged another assist, as he found Lamine Yamal, whose curler beat Thibaut Courtois to equalise for Barça. Hansi Flick’s side immediately pushed for a third, with Pedri making the most of a Real Madrid error in midfield to connect with Raphinha, who turned the game around with a low strike. Raphinha’s header went just wide in the 42nd minute, but Ferran Torres completed a hat-trick of assists by teeing up the Brazilian forward for FC Barcelona’s fourth just before the break.
Barçaheld on despite Mbappé heroics
Goals from Mbappé and Lamine Yamal were ruled out for offside, but Real Madrid managed to pull one back through the France international with 20 minutes to go. The guests had the opportunity to stun FC Barcelona in the closing stages, but second-half substitute Víctor Muñoz skied a big chance with his first kick of the duel. Fellow substitute Fermín López then sent the home fans into a frenzy by netting a fifth in stoppage time, but his goal was overruled because of a handball in the build-up.
Even still, FC Barcelona held on and grabbed their fourth consecutive win over Real Madrid. More importantly, they extended their lead to seven points. They then knew that a win in the local derby against RCD Espanyol would be enough to seal the title, and that’s exactly what Los Azulgranas did, winning 2-0 away at the RCDE Stadium to clinch their 28th league trophy.
