Overview
- Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in a feisty match that featured post-game confrontations between players from both sides.
- Wojciech Szczesny made nine saves, the most by a goalkeeper in an El Clásico since April 2017, and stopped Kylian Mbappé’s second-half penalty.
- The saved spot-kick was the first in an El Clásico since the 2015–16 season, and Szczesny said he anticipated the direction based on film study and a similar penalty he faced five months earlier.
- He explained that his routine includes reviewing the last 20 penalties of likely takers and using cues such as run-up and game context to inform his decision.
- With Joan García back in training but his return timing still uncertain and potentially affected by a Spain call-up, reports indicate Szczesny is set to keep starting for the next few matches, as he also urged players to use meditation and breathing to manage emotions.