Barcelona dominated Real Madrid with a commanding 2-0 victory at Camp Nou, with Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres striking early to secure three crucial points in the La Liga title race.
Barcelona entered this clash as league leaders with 88 points from 34 matches, riding a five-game winning streak. Real Madrid sat second with 77 points, hoping to close the gap with a positive result. The stakes were high in this pivotal encounter between Spain's two biggest clubs.
The hosts made their dominance felt from the opening moments. Rashford broke the deadlock in just the ninth minute, finishing clinically after Barcelona's attacking moves carved open Madrid's defense. The early goal set the tone for a one-sided first half.
Barcelona's momentum continued relentlessly. Torres added a second goal in the 18th minute, doubling the advantage and effectively deciding the contest before the first half reached its midpoint. Two goals in nine minutes left Madrid with a mountain to climb.
The visitors struggled to respond. Despite enjoying eight corner kicks throughout the match, Madrid's attacking play lacked precision and penetration. Barcelona controlled possession at 57 percent and restricted their opponents to just one shot on target.
The second half saw Madrid attempt to find a way back into the contest. However, Barcelona's defense remained resolute. Camavinga received a yellow card in the 40th minute, while multiple players from both sides picked up cautions as the match grew more competitive.
Barcelona made tactical adjustments to protect their lead. De Jong appeared briefly, while Pedri maintained control in midfield throughout the 90 minutes. The hosts managed the game intelligently without needing to add more goals.
Madrid pressed harder as the final whistle approached. Alexander-Arnold worked tirelessly down the right flank, creating four key passes despite the team's struggles in attack. Yet Barcelona's defense proved too strong to breach.
The statistics told the story of Barcelona's superiority. Barcelona registered 10 total shots with seven on target, compared to Madrid's eight shots and just one on target. Expected goals favored Barcelona at 0.98 to Madrid's 0.79.
Barcelona's passing accuracy reached 92 percent with 484 accurate passes from 527 attempts. Madrid managed 87 percent accuracy with 341 successful passes. The home side's ball control was evident throughout.
This victory extends Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga to 11 points with four matches remaining. The Blaugrana's form remains exceptional, while Madrid's inconsistency continues to cost them in the title race.
Barcelona's dominance in this El Clásico clash reinforces their status as favorites to claim the La Liga title. Madrid must regroup quickly and find their rhythm if they hope to mount a late challenge.
