Mbappe reached the milestone of 12 goals in 9 matches against Barcelona.
In the 28th minute at Santiago Bernabeu, Mbappe scored with a diagonal shot to open the scoring, bringing his total to 12 goals in 9 matches against Barcelona; this season he has scored 16 goals in 13 matches for Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe once again chose Barcelona to highlight his killer instinct. In the 28th minute at Santiago Bernabeu, from a pass that tore through Jude Bellingham's defense, Real Madrid's number 10 cut in and fired a diagonal shot to open the scoring. That was Mbappe's 12th goal in 9 encounters against Barca throughout his career (including his time at PSG and Real) — a figure that makes the Catalan team his favorite opponent.
The pivotal moment: the shot that set the tempo.
Before the net was shaken, Mbappe had put the ball in the net but it was disallowed by VAR because it was just a few millimeters offside. He also had a penalty but it was saved. Those moments didn't change Mbappe's playing style: calm movement, acceleration at the right time, one touch to send the ball on an unstoppable trajectory.
Key developments and technical details
The key lay in the quality of Bellingham's pass and how Mbappe exploited the space. When Barcelona pushed forward, the midfield was broken up by a through pass. Mbappe moved from the defender's shoulder into the gap between the center-back and full-back, received the ball with his preferred foot, and swung his right foot to send the ball diagonally into the net—a familiar finishing style of his.
Bellingham – Mbappe: Connecting speed and space
The partnership between Bellingham and Mbappe is central to Real Madrid's attacking approach in big matches. A player with excellent passing vision combined with a forward capable of bursts of speed and precise positioning in the half-space is a simple yet incredibly difficult formula to counter, especially when Barcelona's defense pushes high and leaves space behind.
The familiar "victims": from PSG to Real Madrid
Mbappe's habit of tormenting Barcelona is not a fleeting phenomenon. In the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League, he scored a hat-trick at Camp Nou in a 4-1 victory, then added a penalty in the second leg, sealing a 5-2 aggregate win. In the 2023/24 Champions League quarter-finals, after PSG lost 2-3 in the first leg, Mbappe scored a brace in the second leg at Camp Nou — a penalty and a counter-attack goal in the 89th minute — sending the Parisian side into the semi-finals.
A start at Real Madrid and a relentless scoring rhythm.
Joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, Mbappe was expected to inherit Cristiano Ronaldo's legacy — and the numbers support that. So far this season, he has scored 16 goals in 13 games across all competitions. In big matches, Mbappe's name is a regular on the scoreboard.
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 a direct free-kick in the Copa del Rey final. In the El Clásico 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 showcasing a full range of skills: penalty, angled shot, and lightning-fast counter-attack.
October 2025: A reaffirming message
In the first El Clásico of the new season, Mbappe opened the scoring at the Bernabeu. A goal disallowed by VAR and a missed penalty only served as a backdrop for the decisive strike. Once again, Barca became the platform for Mbappe to remind everyone of his stature.
Notable statistics
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals scored against Barcelona (total) | 12 goals in 9 matches |
| Current season form at Real Madrid | 16 goals in 13 matches |
| Hat-trick against Barcelona | twice |
| Key milestones before Barca | Hat-trick 4-1 at Camp Nou (2020/21); double in the second leg of the quarter-finals (2023/24); hat-trick in El Clásico (2024/25) |
Reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo — but in Mbappe's way.
Each goal against Barca only deepens the comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo. Explosive speed, sharp positioning, and composure in crucial matches are similarities. But what sets Mbappe apart lies in his off-ball runs and his ability to finish with a single touch from tight angles. With 12 goals in 9 matches against Barcelona, the club serves as the clearest reflection of Mbappe's rise at the Bernabeu.