Mbappe reaches 12 goals in 9 matches against Barcelona
In the 28th minute at Santiago Bernabeu, Mbappe scored a cross-angle shot to open the scoring, bringing his total to 12 goals in 9 matches against Barcelona; this season he has 16 goals in 13 matches for Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe chose Barcelona again to emphasize his killer instinct. In the 28th minute at Santiago Bernabeu, from Jude Bellingham's defense-splitting pass, Real Madrid's number 10 cut in and scored diagonally to open the score. It was Mbappe's 12th goal in 9 matches against Barca in his career (counting both PSG and Real) - a number that makes the Catalan team his favorite opponent.
The key moment: the kick that sets the tempo
Before the net shook, Mbappe had put the ball into the goal but was denied by VAR because it was just a few millimeters offside. He also had a penalty but it was blocked. Those moments did not change the rhythm of Mbappe's play: moving calmly, accelerating at the right time, taking one touch to send the ball on an unstoppable trajectory.
Key developments and technical details
The decision came down to the quality of Bellingham’s passing and how Mbappe exploited the space. As Barcelona pressed forward, the midfield was broken by the through ball. Mbappe moved from the defender’s shoulder into the “gap” between the center-back and the full-back, received the ball with his right foot and followed it up with a diagonal strike — his signature finish.
Bellingham – Mbappe: connecting speed and space
The combination of Bellingham and Mbappe is central to how Real Madrid attack big games. A player with an eye for early passing combined with a striker capable of breaking through in the half-space is a simple enough formula but incredibly difficult to break down, especially when Barca’s defence is high and leaves space behind them.
Familiar “victims”: from PSG to Real Madrid
Mbappe's habit of tormenting Barcelona is not a one-off. In the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League, he scored a hat-trick at Camp Nou in a 4-1 win, then added a penalty in the second leg, closing out the 5-2 aggregate scoreline. In the 2023/24 Champions League quarter-finals, after PSG lost 3-2 in the first leg, Mbappe scored a brace in the return leg at Camp Nou — a penalty, an 89th-minute counterattack — to send the Parisians into the semi-finals.
Starting at Real Madrid and scoring goals in a row
Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, is expected to carry on Cristiano Ronaldo's legacy — and the numbers back him up. So far this season, he has scored 16 goals in 13 games in all competitions. In big games, Mbappe's name is often on the scoresheet.
Even in defeats like the 0-4 loss at the Bernabeu or in finals, Mbappe still left his mark: scoring in the Spanish Super Cup final (Real lost 2-5) and scoring with a direct free kick in the Copa del Rey final. In the El Clasico at the end of the 2024/25 season, he scored his second career hat-trick against Barca even though Real lost 3-4 — three goals that showcased his full skill set: penalty, diagonal finish, lightning-fast counter-attack.
October 2025: a message of reassurance
In the first Clasico of the new season, Mbappe opened the scoring at the Bernabeu. A goal ruled out by VAR and a missed penalty only served as a backdrop for the decisive finish. Once again, Barca became the launching pad for Mbappe to remind himself of his stature.
Notable statistics
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals against Barcelona (total) | 12 goals in 9 matches |
| Current season form at Real Madrid | 16 goals in 13 matches |
| Hat-trick against Barcelona | 2 times |
| Milestones before Barca | Hat-trick 4-1 at Camp Nou (2020/21); quarter-final second leg double (2023/24); El Clásico hat-trick (2024/25) |
Reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo — but in the Mbappe way
Every goal against Barca has intensified the comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo. His explosive pace, sharp positioning and clinical ability in key games are all similarities. But what sets Mbappe apart is his off-the-ball running and one-touch finishing from tight angles. With 12 goals in nine games against Barca, Mbappe has become the clearest mirror of Mbappe’s upward trajectory at the Bernabeu.
