Barcelona Retains League Title After Victory Over Real Madrid in El Clasico

SadaNews - Barcelona has retained the Spanish league title for the second consecutive season and for the 29th time in its history, following its victory over traditional rival Real Madrid with two clean goals, in the events of the 35th round of La Liga, with three rounds remaining until the end of the season.

The Catalan team secured the match outcome in the first half, as English player Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with an early goal scored just 9 minutes after the referee's whistle, then added player Ferran Torres the second goal in the 18th minute.

Thus, the royal team left empty-handed from any title this season, which has not happened to them for several years, knowing that they last won the league title in the 2023-2024 season.

The league champion Barcelona raised its points tally to 91 at the top to extend the gap from runner-up Real Madrid to 14 points, securing the title three rounds before the end of the 2025-2026 season.

Barcelona continued its perfect home record this season, winning all 18 of its matches, and crowned the title in the El Clasico match held at "Camp Nou" for the first time in three years due to the closure of the stadium for maintenance and expansion work.

Although a draw was theoretically enough for Barcelona, who led the league by 11 points over their closest rival Real, they are now 14 points ahead of them, ensuring their second consecutive title and plunging their traditional rival into an ongoing crisis.

The match was decided by Flick’s men, who received news of his father’s death just hours before the match, in less than twenty minutes.

The royal club played the El Clasico against the backdrop of a violent altercation between the French Aurélien Tchouaméni and Uruguayan Federico Valverde.

Real imposed a financial fine of 500,000 euros on Tchouaméni and Valverde on Friday, with no disciplinary actions, allowing the French international player to participate in El Clasico.

Tchouaméni played in midfield alongside compatriot Eduardo Camavinga and Englishman Jude Bellingham.

As for Valverde, who sustained a head injury during the altercation, he will be out for almost 10 days and did not travel with the team, similar to French striker Kylian Mbappé, who was not called up by his coach for this crucial match as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has been absent since mid-March, returned to Real's starting lineup, while young Gonzalo Garcia formed an attacking duo with Brazilian captain Vinícius Júnior in Mbappé's absence.

As for Barcelona, which missed its star Lamin Jamal due to injury, Flick deployed striker Ferran Torres in the central forward position, seated French wingback Jules Koundé on the bench, and brought in Eric Garcia in his place.

Barcelona started the match aggressively, scoring an early goal from a stunning free kick executed by Rashford that settled into the top corner of Courtois' goal (9), marking his 14th goal this season across all competitions, and the eighth in the league.

Real barely had time to recover from the shock of the opening goal when they found themselves behind again, after a back-heel play by Dani Olmo inside the box reached Torres, who had no difficulty putting it in the net (18), raising his league tally to 16 goals and 22 across all competitions.

Garcia missed a chance to reduce the deficit with a shot beside the right post (22).

Eric Garcia saved Barcelona after a superb through ball behind Barcelona's defense reached Bellingham before passing to Vinícius, but the former Manchester City player intervened forcefully and cleared the ball for a corner (23).

Courtois saved a shot from Rashford, after a pass from Torres (39).

Courtois continued his brilliance with a foot save from a shot by Torres, following a deep pass from Portuguese João Cancelo (56).

Bellingham thought he had reduced the deficit but his goal was ruled out for offside (63), before Rashford and Olmo were substituted a minute later for Brazilian Raphinha and Dutchman Frenkie de Jong.

Courtois kept the two-goal gap intact by saving a shot from substitute Polish Robert Lewandowski, who came on for Torres (84).