Barcelona claimed their 29th Spanish league championship by defeating Real Madrid 2-0 in the 35th round of La Liga, clinching the title with three matches to spare.
Prior to kickoff, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the father of Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, whose passing was announced on Sunday. Despite the personal loss, the German tactician led the team from the dugout.
The match at Camp Nou in Barcelona ended with a 2-0 scoreline. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a stunning free kick, followed by Ferran Torres doubling the lead in the 18th minute.
According to Opta statistics, Rashford became the first Barcelona player to score a direct free kick against Real Madrid since Lionel Messi accomplished the feat in October 2012.
This was the 264th edition of El Clásico across all competitions, and the 192nd meeting in La Liga. Real Madrid have won 80 of those league encounters, Barcelona 77, with 35 draws.
Barcelona now sit at the top of the La Liga table with 91 points, 14 ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. This is the first time Barcelona have won the league title by defeating their arch-rivals; the last time the championship was decided in an El Clásico was in 1932, when Real Madrid secured the crown with a 2-2 draw.
Barcelona’s 29th league title moves them closer to Real Madrid’s record of 36 championships. The Catalan side have dominated the season, showcasing resilience and tactical brilliance under Hansi Flick’s guidance. The victory not only secured the trophy but also ended a period without a league crown after a tight title race last season.