In a match that will surely go down as one of the most memorable El Clasico clashes in recent history, Barcelona pulled off a breathtaking comeback to defeat Real Madrid 4-3, edging themselves closer to securing the La Liga title.
Real Madrid looked to be cruising early on at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, racing to a two-goal lead within the opening 14 minutes thanks to a Kylian Mbappe masterclass. The French star opened the scoring from the penalty spot after being brought down by Barca keeper Wojciech Szczesny, and doubled the lead shortly after, finishing off a blistering counterattack led by Vinicius Jr.
But Barcelona, showing resilience and belief, responded in electrifying fashion. Eric Garcia headed in from a corner to get one back, before teenage sensation Lamine Yamal curled in a stunning equaliser with a shot that left Thibaut Courtois rooted. Just two minutes later, a misplaced pass from Mbappe in midfield handed Raphinha the chance to break, and the Brazilian made no mistake, slotting home to put the hosts in front.
Real thought they had a lifeline before the break with another penalty shout, but VAR intervened, ruling an offside in the buildup. Moments later, a defensive error from Lucas Vazquez gifted Raphinha his second of the night, giving Barca a commanding 4-2 lead at halftime.
Despite Mbappe completing his hat-trick in the 70th minute with a cool finish from a Vinicius Jr assist, Barcelona held firm. Courtois was immense in goal for Madrid, making a string of world-class saves to keep the scoreline respectable, but his heroics weren't enough to stop a determined Barca side.
With three matches remaining, Barcelona now sit seven points clear at the top. A Real Madrid slip-up against Mallorca, or a Barcelona win in their city derby against Espanyol, could see the Catalans crowned champions as early as this week.
Post-match, Lamine Yamal reflected on the importance of the win, saying, “Suffering makes you stronger. Today was about showing character after our Champions League exit. We’re proud of how we responded.
On the other side, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti remained composed, acknowledging the high level of competition: It was a good match between two great sides. We lacked a bit in the final third, but the effort was there.
With speculation mounting over Ancelotti’s future and whispers of Xabi Alonso taking the reins next season, the end of this campaign could bring significant changes in Madrid. But for now, all eyes are on Barcelona as they march towards their 28th La Liga title.
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