Barcelona took a major step toward reclaiming the La Liga title with a dramatic 4-3 win over Real Madrid on Sunday at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
The win not only extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points with three matches remaining but also saw the Catalan club defeat their rivals for the fourth time this season, a feat they last achieved 42 years ago, during the 1982/83 campaign.
Real Madrid started strongly, with Kylian Mbappe converting a penalty in the fifth minute and adding a second nine minutes later following a quick counter-attack.
However, Barcelona responded with intensity. Eric Garcia pulled one back with a header in the 19th minute before Lamine Yamal leveled the score with a curling strike from the edge of the box just after the half-hour mark.
Two minutes later, Raphinha intercepted a loose ball and finished clinically to make it 3-2, and completed his double in the first-half added time.
Trailing 4-2 in the second half, Mbappe completed his hat-trick to bring the game at 4-3.
Both sides had goals ruled out in a tense finale, but Barcelona held on to secure their fourth Clasico win of the season.
The last time the club achieved such dominance over Real Madrid in a single campaign was in 1982/83 under Udo Lattek and César Luis Menotti.
Hansi Flick’s side now sit firmly in control of the title race, needing just one more win to mathematically clinch La Liga.
