Barcelona moved within touching distance of clinching Spain's La Liga title after a pulsating 4-3 victory over rivals Real Madrid in a historic El Clásico showdown on Sunday. Despite a stunning hat-trick by Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé, the Catalan giants staged a dramatic comeback to secure a seven-point lead at the top of the table with three matches remaining.
Trailing 2-0 early after Mbappé's fifth- and 14th-minute strikes, Barcelona roared back with goals from Raphinha (2), Lamine Yamal, and Eric García before halftime. Mbappé completed his treble in the 70th minute but couldn't prevent Madrid's likely knockout from the title race. The French forward now leads the league's scoring charts with 27 goals.
The victory extends Barcelona's flawless record against Madrid this season across all competitions. Coach Hansi Flick praised the team's resilience, stating: “We have to celebrate, but the job isn't finished. Every match will be tough – but we have the quality.” Barcelona could secure their 28th league title as early as Wednesday if Madrid stumbles against Mallorca.
While Madrid shifts focus to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, Barcelona's dominant season – marked by strategic depth and youth development – underscores their revival under Flick. The result sets up a potential title-deciding clash against Espanyol on Thursday.
