Barcelona are La Liga champions once again — and they made history in wrapping up their title defence with victory over wounded rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico.
Sunday night’s 2-0 Barca win came after an extraordinarily turbulent week for Madrid, in which a bleeding Federico Valverde was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital after a dressing-room fight with Aurelien Tchouameni on Thursday.
Valverde suffered a head injury and was ruled out of the game, but Tchouameni was among Madrid’s starters at the Camp Nou, where home fans witnessed a historic moment for the club.
Never before had Barca won La Liga in El Clasico. Madrid achieved that 94 years ago, when meetings between the two clubs were not quite so charged, to pick up the 1931-32 title, their first league success.
Barca supporters were already cheering each pass by the 20th minute, having gone 2-0 up through a brilliant Marcus Rashford free kick and a slick move finished off by Ferran Torres.
Celebrations are sure to continue late into the night in Catalonia, and players and coaching staff flooded the pitch at the final whistle. For Madrid, a punishing season has now effectively come to an end, marking a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy.
Dermot Corrigan, Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero and Thom Harris take us through the game’s big talking points.
Did Madrid turn up?
As far as meltdowns go, Real Madrid’s in the week leading up to this Clasico had been impressive — featuring two clashes between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, one of which led to Valverde being sent to hospital, news of a previous altercation between Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras, as well as the revelation Kylian Mbappe insulted a member of the coaching staff during a training session in April.
On Premier Sports’ coverage of the game in the UK and Ireland, Carlo Ancelotti’s son and the former Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti described the preparations as “not ideal” — which was putting it lightly. Optimistic Madrid fans might have wondered whether that could all lead to an on-pitch response from Alvaro Arbeloa’s side in an “us against the world” kind of performance.
Tchouameni is marked by Eric Garcia (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
They needn’t have bothered. By the 18th minute, Barca were 2-0 up and had scored the kind of goal that showed everything Madrid are not at this moment in time — a fine team move which finished with Dani Olmo backheeling the ball into the path of Ferran Torres to fire home. The defending for that goal said it all, with Rudiger pulled in Olmo’s direction and Raul Asencio (a late replacement for Dean Huijsen after the latter suffered from flu) failing to track Torres in the German’s place.
It was that kind of performance from Madrid, who simply did not look up to the occasion. Gonzalo Garcia had a gilt-edged chance to get them back in the game after Asencio played a long ball over Barca’s high line in the 23rd minute, but the striker hit the side-netting. Jude Bellingham almost played in Vinicius Junior with a ball across goal a minute later, only for that chance to be cut out by Eric Garcia.
At that point, Barca fans were telling Madrid fans to “salute the champions”, ‘oles’ were beginning to ring around the Camp Nou and Arbeloa looked a man defeated on the sidelines.
It did not get much better in the second half. Bellingham received an elbow to the face from Eric Garcia which left him with a bloody lip. The Englishman had the ball in the net in the 63rd minute but was flagged offside. Trent Alexander-Arnold got into a shoving match with Raphinha late on as time ticked down on a historic embarrassment for Madrid.
The bleakest part for Arbeloa’s side? It was all so predictable.
Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero
How important was Rashford’s goal?
Rashford had not started many games recently for Barcelona, even with first-choice wide-attackers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both injured, amid doubts over his all-round game and suitability for the club long-term. But the Englishman took the opportunity tonight to show everyone what he is capable of.
When Madrid defender Rudiger knocked over Torres on the edge of the penalty area, the free-kick position to the right of centre was not in the ideal spot for a right-footer.
But Rashford swept the ball just over the wall and into the far top corner with tremendous power and accuracy. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, making his return from injury, seemed to be moving across early to his left, and was then unable to adjust in time. But it was a really great strike in a huge moment for the scorer.
Barca have an option to sign Rashford for €30m this summer (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The word coming out of Barca is that they are not sure about signing Manchester United loanee Rashford permanently this summer, thinking the €30million asking price is too high for a 29-year-old. If that is just a negotiating position, then his Clasico goal — and all-round performance — might make sporting director Deco, coach Flick and president Joan Laporta think twice.
Another factor is that Barcelona do not currently have a real free-kick specialist. This was their first goal direct from a free kick in a Clasico since Lionel Messi curled one past Iker Casillas back in October 2012. Other Barca legends to net dead balls in Clasicos include Ronald Koeman and Ronaldinho. Rashford is not at their status, but scoring such a goal on such a huge occasion could make it more likely he stays at the Camp Nou beyond this summer.
Meanwhile, Madrid’s two Englishmen were having frustrating evenings. Bellingham looked sluggish and disconnected from his team-mates for most of the game. Three moments summed up his night (and his season): being the victim of an accidental elbow by Barca’s Eric Garcia which drew blood; getting booked for returning to the pitch without the referee’s permission; and then finding the net amid a goalmouth scramble when the flag was already up for a clear offside.
Alexander-Arnold was more often involved in the game, and seemed one of the Madrid players most determined to try to make something happen, but little that the ex-Liverpool right-back tried came off, and he also ended up in the referee’s book after pushing over Raphinha during a mini scuffle late on.
Dermot Corrigan
How was Madrid’s defensive shape opened up?
This isn’t the first time in the Flick era that his Barcelona side have sliced through their great rivals with incisive, quick-passing football. It is also one of many examples of Madrid’s default 4-4-2 out-of-possession shape doing very little to stop it.
There are issues all over the pitch — personnel, communication, athleticism — that invite a technically-gifted side such as Barcelona to pick their way through. The front two are easily bypassed, allowing Pedri to consistently get on the ball in pockets of space. The space behind the midfield is continually flooded, with movement from Barcelona’s creative midfielders leaving Bellingham and Tchouameni with too many runs to track. While behind them, centre-backs do not know when to step up in support, leading to inconsistent moments of pressure that can open up space.
Torres’ strike for Barca’s second goal came after a slick team move (Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona’s wonderful second goal illustrated how Madrid’s passive shape can be moved from side to side, before a darting run from Torres — emerging from that space between the midfield and defence — showed the ease with which players can slip into blind spots behind midfield and ultimately get at the defence.
This was not so much a problem with Arbeloa’s specific game plan on the day; there are not too many other ways to fit all of their attacking talent into a starting XI that can win games with moments of magic at the other end.
Instead, it is a much broader squad-building problem, where Madrid do not have the players to defend proactively and aggressively, or repel pressure when they do drop into a deeper shape.
It leads to passivity, which can be ruthlessly exposed against the best sides on nights like this.
Thom Harris
What does this La Liga title mean for Barca?
This was an extra special evening for Barcelona, with the two early goals basically deciding the game, and the Camp Nou supporters able to enjoy the joyous atmosphere and close relationship between fans and team.
This is Barca’s 29th La Liga title, and every one is special, but this will be really celebrated around the club. They have been far superior this season, especially after overcoming a tricky start in which even Flick questioned if his team had the focus required to retain their title. A side built around a local core has shown tremendous consistency and application.
A minute’s silence was held before kick-off in remembrance of Flick’s father, who passed away this weekend (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Since losing at the Bernabeu in October’s reverse Clasico, Barca have won 23 of their 25 games in La Liga, turning Madrid’s previous five-point advantage back then into a 14-point lead for the Catalans after tonight’s game, with three games to play.
Flick’s team are now on course to match the most points ever in a La Liga season, set by Jose Mourinho’s 2011-12 Real Madrid side and equalled the following season by Tito Vilanova’s Barca, with Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and company.
The current Barca side is not yet at the level of the club’s historic best, and are not yet good enough to win a Champions League. But they and their coach have been completely dominant in Spain, and deserve their celebrations.
Dermot Corrigan
What next for Real Madrid?
One season without a major trophy at Real Madrid could be put down to misfortune. Two looks like carelessness.
It is perhaps no coincidence that the last time that happened was 2009-10, the campaign just before Mourinho was brought in for three fractious years in charge. Mourinho is now the man being tipped for a Bernabeu return 13 years on, in arguably even more challenging circumstances.
Arbeloa is not expected to remain in his role for next season (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
This is a squad which still possesses plenty of talent, but which is clearly divided. Galactico egos have been allowed to go unchecked. And Barcelona only seem set to become stronger, with a young team led by Yamal (out injured for the rest of the season) sure to be bolstered this summer.
Whether the fiery Mourinho is the answer is almost a moot point — the problems stretch beyond the coach. Can four star players such as Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Bellingham and Rodrygo play in a balanced team? How do you bring unity back to a side that seems to be lacking leaders?
Only two years ago, Madrid were lifting their record-extending 15th Champions League title at Wembley while some voices around the squad were telling The Athletic the dressing room was one of the most united in years. And the way the power shifts between these two in Spain means we may well be writing about a Madrid title triumph next season.
For now, however, there are more problems than answers.
Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero
What did Flick say?
“I will never forget this day,” the 61-year-old German told Movistar.
“It was a tough day for me, starting with my father passing away. But here my team is fantastic. I really love it. It is like a family. They gave everything today, I’m really proud.
“Our fans were fantastic. It’s amazing in this stadium and also to win La Liga in a Clasico against Real Madrid. It was not easy as Real is a fantastic team. But we played really good, made the goals in the right moment, and defended very well.”
What did Arbeloa say?
“We can’t say much because we understand the frustration, the disappointment,” the 43-year-old Spaniard said in his post-match press conference.
“The only thing we can do is work and look to the future. Madrid always comes back. I understand the anger; we have to work to turn the situation around.
“I think we have a great squad and we can get performances out of it. The downside is that there have been many injuries, which is not an excuse.”
On his future, he added: “We will likely have a conversation with the club, as usual. I want the team not to drop points in these last three matches.”
