In a thrilling and tense encounter, Barcelona suffered a shock defeat to Real Madrid in El Clásico, with Los Blancos emerging 2-1 winners to strengthen their grip on the La Liga summit. Barcelona, who had hoped to narrow the gap on their fiercest rivals, failed to rise to the occasion and now sit second in the table with 22 points — a full 27 behind league leaders Real Madrid.
After the match, Brazilian winger Raphinha openly criticized his young teammate Lamine Yamal, claiming that the teenager’s pre-match comments contributed to the team’s downfall. “Lamine is responsible for his words,” Raphinha said. “They showed a lack of maturity and gave Real Madrid extra motivation to prove a point on the pitch.”
He went on to explain that Yamal’s remarks placed unnecessary pressure on himself and the team at a time when full focus was needed, ultimately tipping the balance in Real Madrid’s favor.
Despite the bitter setback, Barcelona are determined to bounce back and learn from their mistakes. The Catalan side recognizes that the road ahead remains challenging, with key fixtures in both La Liga and the Champions League on the horizon. How they respond in the coming weeks could shape the course of their season — particularly as the battle with Real Madrid and other top Spanish clubs intensifies, and as European ambitions demand renewed strength and composure.
