Iran Press/ Europe: Barcelona could not capitalize on the chance to reignite the La Liga title race and will finish the weekend still in second place and eleven points behind leaders Real Madrid with six games to go thanks to a 3-2 defeat in Sunday’s El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu. Barça played a solid match in the Spanish capital and were in front twice, but crucial defensive mistakes cost them all three points and their chase for the championship is now over.
FIRST HALF
Perhaps because of their exertions in Europe in midweek, both teams played the first half at a very slow pace, and the game lacked in true quality throughout the opening period. No team was superior and much of the game was played in midfield as the two sides mostly denied each other and couldn’t manufacture true chances outside of set pieces and mistakes by the opponent.
Barça landed the first punch after a corner from Raphinha was headed home by Andreas Christensen at the far post in the sixth minute, but a bad defensive play by João Cancelo led to a desperate challenge by Pau Cubarsí on Lucas Vázquez inside the box, and Vinicius Junior scored the penalty to equalize after 18 minutes.
The rest of the period was frankly a tough watch as both teams remained slow and unimaginative on the ball, constantly losing possession with poor mistakes. The only moments of danger came on Barça set pieces, including a corner from Raphinha that was deflected by Lamine Yamal at the near post and saved by Andriy Lunin right on the line.
The half ended with very bad news for Barça as Frenkie de Jong appeared to suffer yet another serious ankle injury after a rough 50-50 challenge involving Madrid’s Federico Valverde, and the Dutchman left in tears on a stretcher as he was replaced by Pedri in the dying seconds of the period.
The halftime whistle came to an end in a game lacking in quality and intensity, with a set-piece goal and a penalty the only moments of excitement. Would the second half bring more entertainment and could Barça find a way to pull off the upset on the road?
SECOND HALF
Xavi Hernández made a second change at halftime, replacing Andreas Christensen with Fermín López in an attacking move that clearly showed a winning attitude by the visitors. Barça came out with a more aggressive shape, looking to press higher up the pitch and trying to score an early goal.
But that attacking approach left Barça more vulnerable at the back, and they gave Madrid a lot of space to counter-attack in numbers as the game quickly became very open. A second goal by either side seemed like a matter of time, and the intensity started to pick up as we reached the hour mark.
Xavi made two more changes with 30 minutes to go as João Félix and Ferran Torres came on for Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, looking for more creativity out of the front players. Félix immediately got on the ball and Ferran moved all over the front line, and the duo had a great impact on the flow of Barça’s attack as the Blaugrana grew stronger in the game.
Barça’s improved play was rewarded with a goal as Yamal’s cross was not properly claimed by Lunin, and Fermín López was quickest to the rebound to put the visitors in front for a second time. Their celebrations were short-lived, however, as Madrid needed just four minutes to equalize after a cross from Vinicius found Vázquez all alone at the far post to equalize and set up a dramatic finish.
The Catalans had 15 minutes to find a winner and save their season, while Carlo Ancelotti made three defensive-minded substitutions to protect the result and seal the league title. Madrid sat back and played for a winner on the counter, and they nearly found it with 10 minutes to go but Marc-André ter Stegen made a brilliant stop one-on-one against Vinicius.
Barça threw caution to the wind looking for a winner, and they paid for it at the death: Brahim Díaz went on a solo run through the middle and found Vázquez on the right wing, and the Spaniard’s cross was finished by Jude Bellingham at the far post to seal the victory for Los Blancos.
The final whistle came, and Real Madrid will win the 23-24 La Liga title. They are 11 points ahead and have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Barça with six games to go, so there’s zero doubt the title race is now over. Barça played well at times and fought hard until the end, but there is a clear gap between the two rivals and the Blaugrana will end the season without a trophy and with many problems to solve in the summer.
League leaders Madrid all but cemented a 36th La Liga title.
Defending champions Barcelona lost the home fixture 0-1 in October.
Real Madrid also won the Supercopa version of the El Clasico when they were crowned 2024 Supercopa champions with a 4-1 score in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
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