El Barsico: Barcelona humiliate Real Madrid again to seal La Liga title

Back in the early 1990s, Real Madrid held a 15-domestic-title advantage over Barcelona. At the start of the millennium, the gap was still 11. After tonight, it is down to just seven.

And the latest chapter of Spanish football's greatest rivalry may have felt more symbolic than ever.

Barcelona officially crowned another La Liga title with a dominant 2-0 victory on Sunday night at Camp Nou over their biggest rivals - a scoreline that barely reflected the gulf between the two sides. In truth, Los Blancos literally escaped humiliation.

By the 18th minute, the match already seemed wrapped up. Barcelona overwhelmed Madrid with relentless intensity, movement, and confidence, delivering yet another brutal reminder that under Hansi Flick, they have become Real Madrid's recurring nightmare.

Since Flick arrived in Catalonia, Barca's record against Madrid now stands at six wins, one draw, and one defeat, with a staggering 25-11 aggregate scoreline. Even those numbers struggle to fully capture the Blaugrana's dominance across the last two seasons.

Madrid arrived battered by injuries and internal chaos. Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, Dani Carvajal and several others were unavailable, while defender Dean Huijsen reportedly picked up an injury during the warm-up.

But excuses no longer seem enough.

This Real Madrid side simply appears incapable of handling Barcelona's high-speed attacking football, regardless of personnel. And Barcelona themselves were far from full strength, with Lamine Yamal missing out entirely, while Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski all started on the bench.

Instead, Barcelona's homegrown core took over.

Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo dictated the tempo, while Marcus Rashford tore Madrid apart with a devastating display down the wing.

The opening goal arrived early. Rashford curled a sensational free-kick beyond Thibaut Courtois after Ferran Torres had been fouled on the edge of the box. Minutes later, Barcelona produced the move of the night - Fermin's long pass, Olmo's brilliant backheel assist, and Torres finishing clinically for 2-0.

Barcelona missed several chances to turn the game into a historic rout, with Rashford wasting a clear one-on-one opportunity and both Raphinha and Lewandowski going close after the break. Madrid, meanwhile, barely threatened beyond a single chance for Gonzalo Garcia.

It was another alarming image of a club spiraling through one of its worst seasons of the modern era: trophyless, divided, and surrounded by controversy. Reports from Spain suggest parts of the dressing room no longer fully back coach Alvaro Arbeloa, whose future now appears increasingly uncertain.

Barcelona, meanwhile, may still feel disappointment over failing to win the UEFA Champions League - their ultimate objective this season - but nights like this soften every wound.

Because in Catalonia, beating Real Madrid like this often feels bigger than any trophy itself.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 35

Friday

Levante - Osasuna 2-2 (2-2)

/Garcia 35, 37 - Toljan 3 og, Budimir 11/

Elche - Alaves 1-1 (0-0)

/Rodriguez 72 - Martinez 51 pen/

Sevilla - Espanyol 2-1 (0-0)

/Castrin 82, Adams 90+1 - Dolan 56/

Atletico Madrid - Celta Vigo 0-1 (0-0)

/Iglesias 62/

Real Sociedad - Real Betis 2-2 (0-1)

/Oskarsson 79, Oyarzabal 90 pen - Antony 39, Ezzalzouli 47/

Sunday

Mallorca - Villareal 1-1 (1-1)

/Muriqi 45+2 - Perez 31 pen/

Athletic Bilbao - Valencia 0-1 (0-0)

/Sadiq 72/

Real Oviedo - Getafe 0-0

Barcelona - Real Madrid 2-0 (2-0)

/Rashford 9, Torres 18/

Monday

22.00: (2.35) Rayo Vallecano (3.40) Girona (3.00)

***odds are subject to change***