Galactos signing Kylian Mbappe 'rains offsides' in his first El-Classico

The highly anticipated La Liga clash was upon us, as reigning champions Real Madrid took on their fierce rivals and current league leaders, FC Barcelona, in the season's first El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid came into this match with boosted confidence following a strong comeback victory against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League. This renewed spirit was evident in their first-half performance, setting the stage for an exciting encounter.

Real Madrid's chance to equal a unique record 

Real Madrid is on an impressive streak, currently unbeaten in 42 consecutive La Liga matches, a run that began after their 3-1 loss to Atletico Madrid in September 2023. 

Barcelona holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak in La Liga, with 43 matches, achieved between April 2017 and May 2018 during the transitions of coaches from Luis Enrique to Ernesto Valverde.

If Madrid avoids defeat in this match, they will equal this record and then have the opportunity to set a new one when they face Valencia next weekend.

'Raining offsides' in Mbappe's first Classico 

Tonight marked the first Clasico for Madrid's newest star, Kylian Mbappé, who had a commendable track record against Barcelona from his time at PSG, netting six goals in four encounters.

Although influential in the first half of the fixture, Mbappe was plagued by offsides that denied him many clean chances to score.

In the 30th minute, the World Cup champion showcased his skill by finding the back of the net with a stunning goal. Unfortunately, it was ruled out for offside, as he was just inches ahead when he received Lucas Vázquez’s pass. With a bit more precision in timing, he could have added to his impressive goal count.

Real Madrid displayed a higher pressing game and increased intensity compared to their usual style. 

However, they struggled against Flick’s offside trap, which hindered their attacking efforts. At half-time, they had not registered a single shot on target, a challenge for Carlo Ancelotti's team to address.

Mbappe was caught offside in the 2nd, 15th, 18th, and 30th minutes, all of which were close opportunities that the team can learn from moving forward.