Barcelona closed in on the La Liga title with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Real Madrid in a pulsating El Clasico on Sunday. The win came as a stunning response to a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick and propelled Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear at the top of the table with just three matches remaining.
Real Madrid struck first at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Mbappé converting a penalty in the opening minutes and adding a second in the 14th minute following an assist from Vinicius Junior. Despite protests from Barcelona over an offside and a potential foul in the buildup, both goals stood. The French striker’s brace took him to 26 La Liga goals for the season and 38 overall, surpassing Ivan Zamorano’s club record for goals in a debut season.
Barcelona, coming off a Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Inter Milan, rallied with resilience. Eric Garcia scored from a Ferran Torres corner to cut the deficit, and Lamine Yamal equalized minutes later with a composed finish. Raphinha then completed the comeback by netting twice—once before halftime and again after dispossessing Lucas Vazquez and finishing with precision.
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Although Real Madrid pulled one back through Mbappé to complete his hat-trick—set up by a sharp Vinicius break—Barcelona held firm. The Catalans had a goal disallowed for offside and another for handball, while Wojciech Szczesny denied Madrid’s late attempts at a comeback.
Barcelona now stand on the brink of their first La Liga crown since 2023. They could clinch the title as early as Wednesday if Real Madrid drop points against Mallorca. If Madrid manage to stay in the race, Barcelona would still have a chance to wrap up the league with a win over Espanyol the following day.
With their fourth Clasico win of the season, Barcelona sent a strong message about their resurgence under Flick. Despite the Champions League setback, the team has displayed unity and character in domestic competition. Yamal and Torres both emphasized the importance of the victory, calling it a turning point after their midweek disappointment.
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti admitted that defensive lapses cost Madrid dearly. Despite Mbappé’s standout performance, the Spanish giants now face the possibility of ending the season without silverware, a scenario unthinkable just weeks ago.
As the season draws to a close, all eyes will be on Barcelona’s next fixture. Victory would confirm their dominance in Spanish football once again.
