The rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, known famously as El Clásico, really became more than a football match in 2025 over four pulse-pounding encounters across La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. It produced a mesmerising 14 goals, red cards, tension and moments of sheer brilliance, giving unbridled passion for the fixture worldwide. This year was dominated by Barcelona as they produced some mind-boggling scorelines through their unforgiving attacks, leading them to a domestic treble. The Catalan giants, transformed under Hansi Flick, became a force to reckon with, beating their rivals to several glories last season. However, Real Madrid claimed supremacy in the final El Clásico of the year to show that they might shift the parameters under Xabi Alonso in the 2025-26 season.
Here are all four incredible El Clásicos played in 2025:
Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona - Spanish Super Cup Final (13 January 2025)
The first El Clásico of the year came in the Spanish Super Cup final held in neutral ground in Riyadh. Holders Real Madrid were seeking revenge for their 4-0 demolition at Santiago Bernabeu earlier in the 2024-25 season to keep hold of the title, while Barcelona were hunting their first piece of silverware since 2022. It seemed that Los Blancos would be getting what they wanted as their star forward Kylian Mbappé wasted little time putting his side into the lead within just five minutes, making one of his darting runs and coolly slotting past Wojciech Szczęsny. However, they could have been behind if Thibaut Courtois had not made two early saves from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha’s efforts. The Catalan giants had other ideas as their power-packed frontline once again made a meal of their rivals' defence and produced another entertaining show.
Wonderkid Yamal was sent through by Robert Lewandowski, who beat several defenders and struck past Courtois for a mesmerising equaliser in the 22nd minute. That ignited Barcelona's attack and the floodgates were open. Eduardo Camavinga fouled Gavi inside the box, which earned a penalty that the provider-turned-scorer, Lewandowski, slotted elegantly. The third member of Barca’s ruthless attacking trio, Raphinha, then got into the act only minutes later, heading in Marc Casado’s cross to make it 3-1 to send their fans into ecstasy mode. It was not done as the Brazilian then assisted left-back Alejandro Balde to add another one before half-time. The momentum continued into the second half as Raphina got his second of the evening to make it a high-five display from Hansi Flick’s men.
Carlo Ancelotti's side already had a mountain to climb after the break and this goal only made their task stiffer. However, they got a glimmer of hope when Szczęsny fouled Mbappé through on goal just outside of the box and was sent off, evidently. Rodrigo stepped up to take the free-kick and curled a beauty to reduce the deficit with half an hour left to play. Despite having a man advantage for a significant period, Real Madrid needed truly special work to make a comeback from this stage, which did not materialise as Barcelona battered their rivals for a consecutive time to lift the Spanish Super Cup for the 19th time. It marked the beginning of an incredible dominance by the Catalan giants, leading them to a historic treble that season.
Do check here Barcelona's Biggest El Clasico Wins of this Century
Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid - Copa del Rey Final (27 April 2025)
The pair met in the second cup final of last season, with the competition being the Copa del Rey this time, held at Estadio La Cartuja in Sevilla. Barcelona were looking to add a second title of the season by beating their rivals, while Real Madrid carried the last chance of winning any trophy in the year. It became an intense affair, a dramatic and much closer contest than the previous ones. Once again, Barcelona started the brightest, forcing Courtois into important saves before taking the lead through Pedri, who unleashed a stunning strike from Yamal’s lay-off close to the half-hour mark. Flick’s side could have added more to their tally before half-time, with Ferran Torres almost doing an Olympico, only for it to hit the post and stay out.
Real Madrid were in a similar position at half-time as the other Clasicos of the season and were left frustrated when a penalty was awarded after Vinícius Junior was fouled inside the box, but dismissed by VAR due to offside. Yet, Ancelotti’s men gained composure when Kylian Mbappé was brought on after the break. Szczęsny pulled out back-to-back saves from Vinícius’s effort early in the second half as Los Blancos started to put pressure. The Brazilian was once again denied by the Polish keeper, only minutes later. The side finally found the net when the Frenchman scored from the free-kick he won just outside of the D-box for the much-wanted equaliser. Real then got into the lead with Aurélien Tchouaméni heading home from a corner with just 12 minutes left on the clock.
Just as Real Madrid thought they had finally silenced their rivals to glory, Barcelona struck again after a miscommunication between Antonio Rüdiger and Courtois to deal with a long ball from Yamal allowed Ferran Torres to roll it into an empty net, forcing extra time. Despite a late penalty being dismissed just before the 120 minutes, after a VAR check, the Blaugranas maintained their composure and found the winner four minutes from going into a shootout. The vibrant right-back Jules Koundé latched onto a pass by Luka Modric, who was hoping to start a counter-attack, in a dangerous area and shot past the outstretched Belgian in the net to send the Barcelona faithful into frenzy. Once again, Flick’s side beat Los Blancos to take silverware home, with the latter not helping the cause by starting a melee post-game with three players sent off, including a furious Rüdiger, who apparently threw an ice cube at the official.
Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid - La Liga (11 May 2025)
Two weeks after that chaotic cup final, where Barcelona matched their rivals in winning four El Clásicos finals in the Copa del Rey, the duo locked horns again in the reverse clash of the 2023-24 La Liga season. Flick’s side was on the doorstep of clinching the league title with the third straight win over their rivals enough to seal their destiny, while Ancelotti’s men were looking to delay the title party of their opponent for a week. The Catalan giants were coming into the game straight after the heartbreak of failing to qualify for the Champions League final, giving Real some advantage, as they had the momentum of winning against Celta Vigo in the previous match and also had the time to prepare for the tie.
The Whites, who were the visitors this time, struck first with Mbappe again clumsily fouled by Szczęsny inside the box after Pau Cubarsi’s error. The World Cup winner coolly tucked in from the spot and doubled the money when sent through by Vinícius in the 14th minute, despite Barcelona’s protest of Yamal getting fouled in the build-up. Real Madrid thought they had finally punished their rivals’ overenthusiastic high line, which was one of the reasons for the Catalans’ elimination at the hands of Inter. However, Madrid crumbled against the ruthless attack again, with Barcelona triumphing using their never-dying spirit. Eric Garcia reduced the deficit in the 20th minute from a corner, starting an unforgettable comeback from the hosts.
Superstar in making, Yamal curled past Courtois for a stunning equaliser before Raphinha scored a quick-fire brace to leave their rivals rattled and his side crowned themselves a 28th top-flight title while completing a treble. Mbappe scored again in the second half to complete his hat-trick to make matters interesting at the end, with substitute Victor Munoz also missing a golden chance to equalise, but Barcelona remained unnerved to secure a fourth Clasico win on the spin for the first time since the 2008-2010 period. Both teams had disallowed goals, which would have added more to this eight-goal thriller, yet it was a treat to watch.
Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona - La Liga (26 October 2025)
However, it was not all doom and gloom for Real Madrid, as after a season full of embarrassment by their rivals, Barcelona, they prevented them from clinching a fourth straight El Clásico win in a calendar year in the final head-to-head clash in 2025. Los Blancos had replaced Carlo Ancelotti and ushered in a new era from the 2025-26 season under club legend Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard’s start to the tenure at the club has been impressive, winning nine out of the first 10 games in the league and a win against the fiercest rivals would be the cherry on the cake. On the other hand, the reigning champions were looking to continue their trend of winning this encounter, but injuries and defensive fragilities made them the side to catch up this time.
Alonso’s side was in the game from the start, determined to undo their mistakes of previous El Clásicos. After a penalty inside four minutes was dismissed by VAR, Mbappe became the source of giving them the lead in this encounter once more, with Barcelona again finding it hard to contain the former PSG star. His earlier strike was ruled out for offside, so the elation of the goal hit more. The 26-year-old became only the third player to score in four consecutive El Clásico fixtures across all competitions in the 21st century. Szczęsny was called upon next to prevent his side going down further as he was forced into a brilliant reflex save to deny Dean Huijsen.
That helped Barcelona amid the storm of Madrid attacks as they found the equaliser through Fermin Lopez in the 38th minute. However, the hosts avenging their 4-0 humbling in this fixture at Santiago Bernabeu last time found themselves in the lead again at the stroke of half-time. After assisting the opener, Jude Bellingham tapped in from close range for the game’s eventual winner, although they could have added more to the tally if Mbappe’s penalty was not expertly saved by Szczesny just seven minutes into the second half. Madrid finally found the victory they wanted so badly against their arch-rivals to extend their lead to five points at the top of the table. The end of the match was filled with tension as Pedri was shown a second yellow, flaring up touchline shuffles and showing the feisty nature of the rivalry.
