Kylian Mbappé’s Masterclass in Depth Runs – What You Can Learn from El Clásico

by | Oct 28, 2025 | Football Intelligence

Kylian Mbappé was on fire during the latest El Clásico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. With his explosive pace and intelligent runs in behind, he tore through Barça’s high line — especially in the first half. But what made his depth runs so effective? And where did things go wrong?

Let’s dive into four key clips from the match – and show you how you can learn from the best using Smart11, the football intelligence app.

🎥 Clip 1 – Textbook Timing, Devastating Finish

In this action, Mbappé drops slightly deeper just before the defensive line steps up. This creates space for him to accelerate. He scans, sees his teammate ready to pass, and only starts his run when:

  1. 🧠 He has eye contact with the passer.
  2. ⚽ The ball is under control and ready to be played.

The result? A perfect run, perfect timing, and a clinical goal. The defenders had no chance. This is depth running at its finest.

🎥 Clip 2 – Same Run, Missed Opportunity

Again, Mbappé does everything right:

  • ✅ In the blind spot of the defender.
  • ✅ Leaves enough space for a sprint.
  • ✅ Starts on cue with body and direction perfectly aligned.

But this time, the pass is off. If the ball had been better placed, he would’ve been clean through on goal. This highlights how even the best runs rely on good team play.

🎥 Clip 3 – Great Opportunity, Poor Positioning

Here, Mbappé misses a key adjustment. While the ball is traveling to his teammate, he has time to drop back slightly and stay onside. But he stays static – and ends up offside when the pass is made.

This could have been a major chance. All it needed was a small movement. Lesson: always adjust your position while the play develops.

🎥 Clip 4 – Decent Setup, Flawed Execution

In this clip, Mbappé is almost in the right spot – just slightly deeper than the line. Not bad. But his body orientation is off. When the ball is played, he’s not ready to sprint.

He needs to turn first, and that split-second delay means the goalkeeper gets there first. At this level, every second counts.

📲 Want to Break Down Actions Like This Yourself?

With Smart11, you can:

  • Analyse top players like Mbappé.
  • Learn from their runs, decisions and positioning.
  • Upload your own clips and improve your own movement.

In the free ImpactZone, you’ll find dozens of world-class examples – and you can rate, learn, and apply what you see.

👉 Get inside the game. Understand the WHY. Increase your impact.

🎯 Download Smart11 today and start learning like the pros.