After Tuesday’s heart-stopping Champions League exit, Barcelona have the perfect opportunity to soothe their European wounds by all but clinching the LaLiga title against their fiercest rivals this Sunday.
Four-Point Lead, Three Games Left: Title Within Grasp
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona side enter this potential title-decider with a four-point cushion over Los Blancos. A victory would extend that advantage to seven points with just three matches remaining, a gap that would surely be insurmountable even for the mighty Madrid.
The statistics scream in Barcelona’s favour: they remain unbeaten at their temporary Montjuic home in 2025 and have already defeated Carlo Ancelotti’s side three times this season in a remarkable reversal of fortunes following last year’s Clásico struggles.
Hat-Trick of Victories Already This Season
This campaign has seen a dramatic power shift in Spanish football’s greatest rivalry:
- A 5-2 demolition job in the Spanish Super Cup
- A stunning 4-0 thrashing at the Santiago Bernabéu in LaLiga
- Last month’s thrilling 3-2 Copa del Rey final triumph in Seville
Each victory has showcased Barcelona’s attacking prowess, with all three Clásicos this season featuring four or more goals. Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski have tormented Madrid’s defence, each netting three times across these encounters.
Real’s Defensive Crisis Could Prove Decisive
While Madrid boast a galaxy of attacking talent—including Mbappé, Vinícius Jr., Bellingham and Rodrygo—Ancelotti’s squad is plagued by defensive absentees that could prove fatal to their title hopes.
The injury list reads like a who’s who of world-class defenders: Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy are all sidelined, with midfield shield Eduardo Camavinga also missing.
This defensive crisis is compounded by Madrid’s disciplinary issues. The ill-tempered Copa del Rey final saw Rüdiger, Lucas Vázquez and Jude Bellingham all receive red cards—symbolising a season where Los Blancos have occasionally self-destructed at critical moments.
Flick’s Perfect Response to European Heartbreak
Barcelona’s agonising 7-6 aggregate defeat to Inter Milan ended their treble dreams, but Sunday offers the perfect platform for redemption. Their attacking trident of Lewandowski, Raphinha and the teenage sensation Lamine Yamal will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Madrid’s makeshift defence.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti—potentially overseeing his final El Clásico as Madrid manager—faces the unenviable task of balancing his attacking riches while protecting a vulnerable backline. His superstars’ occasional reluctance to track back could open up spaces for Barcelona’s clinical forwards.
Prediction: More Clásico Fireworks
With both teams possessing formidable attacking weapons but Barcelona enjoying significant defensive advantages, Sunday’s showdown promises another goal-laden spectacle. Given their home record and Madrid’s injury crisis, Barcelona appear perfectly positioned to take a decisive step towards securing the domestic double.
The smart money suggests Flick’s men will claim victory in another thrilling encounter where both teams find the net, potentially delivering the knockout blow in this season’s title race.
