MADRID — For the second time in just five days, Barcelona demonstrated their dominance over Real Madrid, securing a 3-0 victory at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. This result brings Pere Romeu’s team within reach of their seventh consecutive Liga F title.
Goals from Ona Batlle, Alexia Putellas, and an own goal by Maëlle Lakrar secured this win, putting Barcelona 13 points ahead of second-placed Madrid with only six matches remaining.
This victory followed a resounding 6-2 triumph over Madrid at the same venue just days earlier during the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
– UWCL Talking Points: How can VAR improve? Can Madrid keep Caicedo?
– Barcelona reminds Real Madrid who dominates in UWCL
– Are there extra time and away goals in the Women’s Champions League?
A trilogy of clashes between these teams will conclude on Thursday when they meet again at Camp Nou for the second leg of their quarterfinal. Right now, the real question seems to be how many goals Barcelona will score, rather than if Madrid can possibly stage an improbable comeback.
Pau Quesada’s squad struggled on Sunday, managing just one shot on target. They might consider themselves fortunate to have escaped with only a three-goal margin.
What a difference a year can make.
It was around this time in 2025 that Madrid celebrated their first-ever victory against Barcelona—and even managed to defeat Arsenal—albeit they ultimately lost that European tie, showcasing the perceived closing gap between the two rivals.
As Madrid continued to build their squad around players like Linda Caicedo, who had an impressive performance last Thursday but was less influential on Sunday, Barcelona opted to let some squad players leave while promoting younger talent.
However, what many expected to be a chance for Madrid to narrow the gap has not transpired as hoped.
Barcelona’s young players have stepped up this season, with midfielder Clara Serrajordi and defender Aïcha Cámara delivering standout performances as they started both Clásicos this week.
Serrajordi was a surprising choice in midfield on Thursday, blending in seamlessly with Putellas and Patri Guijarro, while Cámara, initially a full-back, has excelled in the center of defense in the absence of Mapi León.
Sydney Schertenleib and Vicky López are both established players compared to Serrajordi and Cámara, yet they, too, are teenagers contributing to Madrid’s efforts.
This remarkable performance by Barcelona comes even without their top player, three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, who is currently sidelined with an injury. The Blaugrana have dominated Madrid on their home turf twice within a week.
The dynamics of Sunday’s match differed from Thursday’s; Madrid pressed less and allowed Barcelona to control the ball. However, the outcome was never in doubt after Batlle’s long-range shot deflected off a defender and found the net in the 18th minute.
Thanks to a goal-line clearance from Rocío Gálvez, Madrid remained “in the game,” at least theoretically, until halftime, but the second half quickly changed the narrative.
Captain Putellas scored the second goal for Barça in the 51st minute following a slick run from Caroline Graham Hansen. This prompted Rodríguez to gather her teammates for a quick discussion just outside her penalty area.
Unfortunately for Madrid, that call for regrouping had minimal impact. Just four minutes later, Lakrar inadvertently redirected a Batlle cross past Rodríguez at her near post, turning the final half hour into a training session for Barça.
Irene Paredes narrowly missed the goal, a shot from Salma Paralluelo was cleared just in time, and Rodríguez made saves against both Esmee Brugts and López. Late on, Clàudia Pina could only hit the side netting after rounding Rodríguez.
Despite cruising to victory, Barça took pleasure in defeating Madrid, maintaining their intensity throughout and likely expecting to add more goals in Thursday’s third encounter within a week.
Guijarro labeled Wednesday’s 6-2 win as “historic,” but there’s an understanding that Barcelona could ultimately benefit from a stronger Madrid—and a more competitive Liga F overall.
After a week that saw Barcelona make significant progress toward clinching both the Champions League and the Liga F titles—with 23 wins from 24 matches, just two more victories in their last six would secure their 11th league title—this discussion has never been more pertinent.
Since Madrid’s win last March, Barcelona has claimed the last five Clásico encounters, boasting an aggregate score of 19-2. Any chatter about Madrid closing the gap has been thoroughly put to rest.
“Madrid may be improving,” López remarked last week. “But we are, too.”