At a glance
- FC Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the Metropolitano on Saturday in a heroic comeback win.
- The victory opened up a seven-point margin at the top, after Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Mallorca at Son Moix.
- If Barca win the Clasico on May 10th, they’ll effectively wrap up another La Liga crown for the second year running.
Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona team took a massive – perhaps definitive – step toward the La Liga title this weekend by beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Saturday.
On a matchday that felt like a critical turning point, results fell perfectly for the Blaugrana.
They left the Riyadh Air Metropolitano with a seven-point lead over Real Madrid, who lost to Mallorca by the same scoreline, with only eight matches remaining.
Here’s how Flick reacted after the final whistle.
The Metropolitano bows to the Blaugrana faith
Barca didn’t falter on one of the toughest road stops on the calendar.
Facing a gritty Atletico, Flick’s side proved exactly why they are the undisputed league leaders and got revenge for a 4-0 loss in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg a few weeks ago.
This affair was a rollercoaster: Atlético struck first through Giuliano Simeone, but the Culer reaction was instantaneous.
Marcus Rashford leveled the score before halftime, restoring calm to the Catalan bench.
The second half was shaped by the dismissal of Nico González, which left Atlético with ten men. Despite a heroic “siege defense” from Diego Simeone’s side, Flick’s tactical gamble of flooding the box with forwards paid off.
In the 88th minute, Robert Lewandowski netted the definitive 1-2, chesting home a rebound for a goal that is worth “half a league” as they say in Spain.
A Favor from Mallorca: Madrid Sinks on the Island
Barcelona’s joy was compounded by the events earlier that day at Son Moix. Real Madrid suffered a shock defeat against a Mallorca side fighting for survival.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s troopz couldn’t break through the “Bermellón” wall and ultimately fell 2-1, courtesy of a dramatic stoppage-time goal by Verdat Muriqi.
This Merengue defeat, combined with Barca’s triumph, stretches the gap in the standings to 7 points, leaving Madrid with zero margin for error.
The Final Sentence for Barcelona: El Clásico on the Horizon
FC Barcelona head into their European quarterfinal ties against Atleti with LaLiga firmly under control- if not virtually sealed.
Flick’s squad could mathematically clinch the title during El Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou on May 10th, after which there will be just three games to spare.
To enjoy the pleasure and the added spice of winning the league against their greatest rival, the Azulgranas simply need to maintain their current seven-point lead heading into the match.
A victory over Madrid at home would extend the lead to 10 points with only nine left in play.
Will there be a celebration for Barcelona?
If Barca continue their streak (now at six consecutive wins) and Real Madrid continue to falter, the title could even be secured earlier at El Sadar against Osasuna in the first weekend of May.
In that scenario, the celebration would take place during El Clásico, potentially forcing Real Madrid to perform the traditional pasillo (guard of honor) for the new champions.
Then, probably on the first Monday after the end of the season, we’ll see another open top bus parade through the streets of the Catalan capital which sets off from Camp Nou and finishes at the Arc de Triomf with thousands of Culers partying well into the night.
