As the countdown to the highly anticipated El Clasico on May 11 intensifies, both Barcelona and Real Madrid secured hard-fought weekend victories to keep the La Liga title race alive and brimming with drama.
Barcelona 2–1 Real Valladolid: Flick’s Gamble Pays Off
Barcelona came from behind to claim a 2-1 win over already-relegated Real Valladolid on Saturday, stretching their lead at the top of the table to seven points—albeit temporarily—with manager Hansi Flick resting key players ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg at Inter Milan.
Valladolid stunned the Catalans early, as Ivan Sanchez’s deflected strike wrong-footed Marc-André ter Stegen, making his first appearance since September. Despite the setback, Barca responded with growing control, and the introduction of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal—once again electric off the bench—sparked life into the attack.
The second-half substitutions of Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong proved decisive. Raphinha capitalized on a spilled cross from Yamal to equalize with his 16th league goal of the season, before Fermin Lopez coolly slotted home Gerard Martin’s low delivery to complete the comeback.
Barca saw out the game with solid defending, a near-miss from Hector Fort, and a late save from ter Stegen to secure three points that keep their title ambitions very much alive.
Real Madrid 3–2 Celta Vigo: Mbappe Brace Keeps Pressure On
Real Madrid responded on Sunday with a nervy but crucial 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu, staying within four points of leaders Barcelona and setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown next weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side looked in full control for the first hour. Arda Guler opened the scoring with a sharp strike from a short-corner routine, and Kylian Mbappe added two more—first from a Jude Bellingham assist, then after a brilliant Guler through ball—to take his league tally to 24, just one behind Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.
But Real were nearly punished for taking their foot off the gas. Celta struck back through Javi Rodriguez and Williot Swedberg in a spirited second-half resurgence. Only late heroics from Thibaut Courtois preserved the win, denying Celta an equalizer and ensuring Real’s title hopes remain intact.
El Clasico Looms
With both sides winning under pressure, all eyes now turn to the Camp Nou on May 11 for a potentially title-defining El Clasico. Just four points separate the arch-rivals, and with the season winding down, next weekend’s clash could decide whether the trophy stays in Barcelona or returns to Madrid.
(Inputs from Reuters and ANN)
