Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid: The Catalans move seven points clear at Montjuic
Barcelona staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Real Madrid 4-3 in a thrilling clásico at Montjuic. The victory moves the Catalan club seven points clear at the top of La Liga with just three matches to go.
Real Madrid started the match strongly, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice within the first 14 minutes. His first came from the penalty spot after being fouled by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and the second followed a swift counter-attack, where he finished off a pass from Vinicius Junior.
The goals took Mbappe’s tally to 39 in all competitions this season, setting a new record for a Real Madrid player in their debut season.
Despite the early setback, Barcelona responded with determination. Eric Garcia headed in from a corner in the 19th minute to reduce the deficit. Lamine Yamal then equalised with a curling shot into the bottom corner. Raphinha added two more goals before halftime, capitalising on defensive errors to give Barcelona a 4-2 lead at the break.
In the second half, Mbappe completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute, bringing Real Madrid back into contention. However, Barcelona managed to hold on to their lead, with Fermin Lopez having a goal disallowed for handball in the build-up.
This victory puts Barcelona in a commanding position in the title race. They now have 82 points, seven more than Real Madrid, with only three games left to play. Barcelona could clinch the La Liga title as early as Wednesday if Real Madrid fail to win against Mallorca.
This win marks Barcelona’s fourth victory over Real Madrid this season, having previously beaten them in La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup final, and the Copa del Rey final. It’s the first time since the 1982-83 season that Barcelona have achieved this feat.
For Real Madrid, the loss is a significant blow, leaving them with slim hopes of retaining the league title. Despite Mbappe’s impressive performance, the team will need to regroup and focus on their remaining fixtures.
Barcelona’s next match is against Espanyol on Thursday, where a win could officially secure their 28th La Liga title.
