Carlo Ancelotti is frustrated with a particular Real Madrid player, whom he holds responsible for the team’s disappointing loss to Barcelona today.

In the season’s first El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid suffered a crushing 4-0 loss to fierce rivals Barcelona.

Real Madrid held their own in the first half, containing Barcelona’s attack and ending the half in a goalless draw. Despite their resilience, the defending champions couldn’t sustain the pressure, allowing Barcelona to capitalize on key opportunities in the second half and secure a commanding win.

The first half was tightly contested, with Madrid’s defense staying compact and Barcelona frequently using the offside trap. Kylian Mbappe nearly put Madrid ahead, but his goal was ruled offside by a narrow margin. However, Barcelona shifted the momentum after the break, taking control of the match.

Around ten minutes into the second half, Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring with a well-taken goal. Shortly after, he doubled Barcelona’s lead, putting Real Madrid under immense pressure. As the match progressed, Barcelona solidified their dominance, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha adding two more goals in the closing stages to secure an emphatic victory.

Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, had a difficult night. Although he made some crucial saves early on, including one from Yamal and a powerful attempt from Pedri, the lack of defensive support left him unable to prevent Barcelona’s goals.

Lucas Vazquez, Madrid’s right-back, showed improvement in the first half, containing Barcelona’s advances and making occasional offensive runs. However, his performance dropped in the second half, giving Lewandowski room to score and struggling to control Raphinha, who exploited the right side and was instrumental in Barcelona’s fourth goal.

Eder Militao had a mixed showing, displaying solidity in the first half with critical interventions, but he faltered after the break, finding himself out of position on Barcelona’s second goal and unable to contain Lewandowski.

Antonio Rudiger had a strong first half, marking Lewandowski closely and using his physicality effectively. In the second half, however, he struggled to maintain his form, giving Lewandowski too much space on the second goal and contributing to gaps in Madrid’s defensive structure.

Ferland Mendy faced early pressure from Lamine Yamal, managing to hold his ground initially. But he contributed little offensively and faltered after halftime, notably playing Lewandowski onside for the first goal.

Jude Bellingham, operating on the right side of midfield, worked hard but was unable to impact the game significantly. He tested Barcelona’s keeper, Inaki Pena, but his efforts were overshadowed by an offside call on Mbappe. In the second half, Bellingham missed a key chance to score when Madrid was down 0-2, capping off a frustrating evening for the midfielder.

Ultimately, Real Madrid’s defensive vulnerabilities in the second half allowed Barcelona to exploit openings and secure a decisive 4-0 win. This defeat underscored Madrid’s need to address defensive issues as they prepare for upcoming challenges.

This El Clasico was a tale of two halves for Real Madrid. In the first half, they held Barcelona at bay with a compact defense and created some offensive opportunities, including a disallowed goal from Kylian Mbappe. Madrid’s defense, led by Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao, showed resilience, while Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vazquez worked tirelessly on the right side. However, Barcelona’s disciplined offside trap and Madrid’s inability to convert chances kept the game scoreless at halftime.

The second half told a different story. Barcelona found their rhythm, with Robert Lewandowski breaking the deadlock around the 55-minute mark and scoring again soon after, which put Real Madrid on the back foot. Despite Andriy Lunin’s early saves, the lack of defensive support left him exposed, and as Madrid’s structure unraveled, Barcelona exploited their openings. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha added two more goals, sealing the commanding 4-0 victory.

Madrid’s defensive frailties were evident in the second half. Rudiger and Militao, strong initially, struggled to contain Lewandowski and the pace of Barcelona’s counter-attacks. Mendy’s error, playing Lewandowski onside, was pivotal in the opening goal, while Lucas Vazquez and Militao both found themselves out of position for subsequent goals. Offensively, Bellingham and Mbappe had moments, but Madrid’s inability to convert these opportunities into goals underscored their struggle.

The defeat highlighted Real Madrid’s need to address their defensive consistency and better manage high-pressure situations, especially in crucial matches like El Clasico. This loss serves as a wake-up call for the defending champions as they prepare for the rest of the season.