When Real Madrid unveiled Kylian Mbappe this summer, it was touted as the formation of a fearsome attacking trio alongside Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.
The ‘Galactico’ move was expected to dominate both domestic and European football.
However, four months into the season, a different trio has stolen the spotlight: Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha.
Barcelona vs Madrid attack in numbers
While Real Madrid’s ‘Galactico’ trio has struggled to live up to expectations, Barcelona’s attacking line has been nothing short of sensational.
Their numbers speak for themselves. In La Liga, Barcelona’s trio has collectively scored 31 goals and provided 18 assists, significantly outperforming Real Madrid’s 20 goals and 11 assists.
Lewandowski’s 15 league goals and Raphinha’s 11 goals highlight their individual brilliance, while Yamal’s creativity has been instrumental in Barcelona’s attacking play.
The contrast between the two trios is even more stark when considering their performances in the Champions League.
Real Madrid’s gloried trio has failed to deliver this season (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Lewandowski’s seven goals in the competition make him the top scorer, while Raphinha, with five goals isn’t far behind either.
In contrast, Real Madrid’s trio has struggled to make a significant impact in Europe. Vinicius is the highest scorer in this department, with a total of four goals.
Raphinha, in particular, has been a difference-maker. His 16 goals and 10 assists across all competitions make him the most decisive player in the team.
Lewandowski, with 22 goals and two assists, follows closely. Even Yamal has 15 goal involvements, which is pretty impressive considering his age.
However, with greater performance, comes greater responsibility. While Real Madrid can always bank on Mbappe to rekindle his form and Vinicius to return from injury, Barcelona have now become overly reliant on their front three.
This was evident in November when the team struggled to perform without the services of Yamal. Others, therefore, must soon step up for Barcelona, if they are to achieve their goals this season.