Real Madrid entered El Clásico in dreadful form, not only due to multiple injuries to key players like Mbappé and Valverde. The atmosphere within the squad appeared to be at an all-time low, with internal conflicts, fines, and leaked information piling up under a coach seemingly on the verge of dismissal. Club president Florentino Pérez, breaking tradition, did not attend the match in person—likely unwilling to congratulate the rival on their title triumph.
The match began with a minute of silence in memory of Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick’s father, whose passing was announced on matchday. This emotional backdrop explained why the Catalan bench celebrated the goals by embracing Flick.
The first goal came in the 9th minute. Rüdiger fouled Ferran Torres just outside the box, and Rashford stepped up to take the free kick, curling it perfectly into the top corner—a strike worthy of the occasion. The Englishman’s performance seemed to justify Barcelona’s decision to buy him from Manchester United.
Nine minutes later, Barcelona struck again. Olmo delivered a brilliant backheel assist while the ball was in the air, and Ferran Torres finished clinically from a forward position to score his 16th league goal of the season, matching Yamal’s tally. The hosts dominated the first half, with Rashford missing a one-on-one chance and Olmo wasting another opportunity. Real Madrid’s best chance before the break came from Gonzalo García, who also squandered a one-on-one.
The second half maintained the tension, with a mass confrontation erupting at one point—Olmo and Asensio both received yellow cards. Then came a controversial moment: Eric García caught Bellingham in the face with his elbow, splitting his lip. The incident occurred inside the box and looked worthy of at least a booking or a penalty, but VAR did not intervene.
Bellingham soon scored, but the goal was ruled out for a clear offside. Another notable event was the return of Raphinha, who had been injured since March. The Brazilian was involved in another clash, receiving a yellow card alongside Trent, meaning he would miss the next match due to an accumulation of bookings.
Late in the game, Lewandowski missed a great chance when he should have passed instead of shooting, but it mattered little. The referee added no stoppage time in the second half, as if acknowledging the inevitable. Barcelona officially clinched the 2025/26 La Liga title, making history by securing the championship in an El Clásico. The win also leveled the all-time head-to-head record between the two clubs at 106 wins each.
As the final whistle blew, Barcelona players celebrated with dancing, a huddle in the center circle, and tossing Flick into the air. Real Madrid’s players approached the away section, raising their hands in apology and clasping them as if praying for forgiveness after a second consecutive season without silverware.