Barcelona pulled off a sensational turnaround to overcome Real Madrid 4-3 in an electrifying El Clasico on Sunday, positioning themselves on the cusp of securing the La Liga crown.
Although Kylian Mbappé netted a hat-trick for Madrid, Raphinha’s brace alongside goals from Lamine Yamal and Eric Garcia ensured a vital victory that widened their lead over the titleholders to seven points with just three games left.
After Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final exit against Inter Milan, Hansi Flick’s men faced the risk of their campaign unraveling. But despite Mbappé’s early double, Barcelona refused to falter.
“We’ve opened up an important gap, it was key to win this game after the Champions League (defeat), the fans have forgotten it and so have we, let’s enjoy this,” Yamal told Movistar.
Mbappé opened the scoring from the spot after a controversial penalty decision, followed by a sharp second goal—his 26th in La Liga this season. Yet Barcelona responded with grit and resilience. Garcia headed home from a corner, and Yamal leveled with a curling strike following Torres’ assist. Soon after, Raphinha fired Barcelona ahead with a composed finish, then added another after forcing a turnover near the Madrid box.
Mbappé struck again after the break, finishing off a quick counter with Vinicius Junior, but Barcelona stood firm. They saw goals ruled out and a penalty appeal waved away but held on to claim a fourth consecutive win over their fierce rivals.
“It was important to win today to bring the league title closer and it went very well, we’re very happy,” added Yamal.
If Real Madrid fail to defeat Mallorca on Wednesday, Barcelona could clinch the league title midweek.
What you should know
Barcelona delivered a thrilling 4-3 victory over Real Madrid, led by a standout performance from Raphinha and Yamal. With three fixtures remaining, the win propels them seven points clear, putting them within reach of their first La Liga title since 2023.
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