Barcelona moved 12 points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-1 Clasico triumph against Real Madrid on Sunday, thanks to Franck Kessie’s late goal.
The result dashes Madrid’s title hopes and puts the Catalans on the verge of collecting the trophy for the first time since 2019.
Real Madrid grabbed the lead thanks to a Ronald Araujo own goal, but Barcelona equalized shortly before halftime when Sergi Roberto tucked home.
Both teams had opportunities to win the game, and while Marco Asensio scored for Madrid, VAR ruled it offside, before Alejandro Balde put up Kessie in the 92nd minute.
“We came from a Marco Asensio goal that we didn’t realize was offside and from losing, and the reality is that winning like that in the last minute tastes a little sweeter,” Sergi Roberto told Movistar.
“There are still a lot of games remaining, and you can never write Madrid out. 12 points is a difficult gap to cover, but we have control over it, which is fantastic.”
Barcelona’s corruption accusation in the “Caso Negreira” officiating controversy dominated the build-up to the match.
This week, Madrid joined the Spanish prosecutors’ lawsuit against Barcelona, and their president Florentino Perez shunned the game for the first time in more than 20 years, amid escalating tensions between the two Spanish heavyweights.
It increased the tension of the game, both on and off the field, in Xavi’s sixth Clasico as Barcelona coach, but just his first at Camp Nou.
Xavi challenged fans to turn the stadium into a pressure cooker, and they delivered, selling out, whistling Madrid in possession, and creating one of the finest atmospheres of the season.
Madrid failed to register a single shot on target in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona earlier in March, but Karim Benzema stung Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s hands inside the opening minute.
At the opposite end, Robert Lewandowski put Thibaut Courtois to the test as the seasoned marksmen traded shots.
It was friendly fire that led to Barcelona’s first goal of the game. Ter Stegen was powerless as Araujo deflected Vinicius’ cross in at the near post.
Araujo, who was playing at right-back to oppose the Brazilian, had previously relished duels with Vinicius, but this time the winger prevailed, although fortuitously. Barcelona fans were furious by his raucous celebration in front of them.
That was the first goal scored from open play at Camp Nou in La Liga this season, and only the second strike at home and ninth overall.
Barcelona claimed that defender Nacho, who had previously been booked, should have been sent off for a handball on Raphinha.
The hosts did not get their way, but they were gaining momentum and got a breakthrough right before halftime from an unexpected source.
Sergi Roberto, who was substituted for injured midfielder Pedri, was in the right place at the right moment to control a loose ball in the box and arc it past Courtois.
Barcelona had substantially more possession and opportunities than in their cup triumph against Madrid.
As Madrid wobbled, Lewandowski blasted a deflected piledriver barely wide, leading Carlo Ancelotti to take a chance and send on Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy.
As Madrid robbed Sergio Busquets and Rodrygo blasted inches over the bar, it almost immediately paid benefits.
Madrid replacement Asensio scored what appeared to be the game-winning goal, but it was called out for offside following a tense wait for VAR instruction.
Barcelona were pleased with a point, but Kessie’s last-gasp goal elicited frenzied celebrations at Camp Nou.
Asked if Madrid’s prospects of retaining the championship were ended, Courtois told Movistar: “Yeah, we have to be honest, we will keep fighting until the end but it’s (12 points) now, we have the superior head-to-head, but they have to lose four games and we have to win them all.
“There is nothing impossible, but it is really tough.”