Marcus Rashford delivered an outstanding free-kick as Barcelona secured consecutive La Liga titles with a decisive 2-0 victory against their rivals, Real Madrid, at Spotify Camp Nou.
The early stages of the match saw both goals scored within the first 18 minutes, beginning with Rashford’s spectacular curling shot in the ninth minute, quickly followed by a second from Ferran Torres.
Marcus Rashford celebrates his free kick (Getty)
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham found the back of the net in the second half, but his goal was disallowed for offside, as the visitors struggled for dominance throughout the match.
Barcelona could have extended their lead further, but Thibaut Courtois made several impressive saves to thwart both Rashford and Torres.
The victory in this El Clasico moved Barcelona 14 points clear at the top of the table with just three matches remaining, putting them in a position to potentially finish the season with 100 points.
For manager Hansi Flick, the win was particularly poignant following the recent passing of his father. “I will never forget this day,” Flick shared. “It was a tough day for me. It starts with the news of my father passing away, but my team was fantastic. This is like a family, and I’m so proud of them. Winning in this stadium, especially in the Clasico against Real Madrid, makes it even more amazing.”
Hansi Flick celebrates after a tough day (AP)
This loss continues a challenging period for Real Madrid, who remain without Kylian Mbappe, recovering from a hamstring injury. Additionally, midfielders Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni have faced significant fines due to their involvement in a training ground incident that reportedly left Valverde hospitalized.
PA