Barcelona took a huge step towards a second straight La Liga title as they handily dispatched local rivals Espanyol in the Catalan derby at Camp Nou. The pressure was firmly on Hansi Flick’s men to bounce back in style after a disastrous 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against compatriots Atletico Madrid in the same stadium just days prior. And ultimately, they would secure the decisive win the Culers desired.
A first-half brace from Ferran Torres, in the starting line-up ahead of Robert Lewandowski, set Barca on their way, but the second half would provide its scares. Pol Lozano pulled a goal back for the visitors, and in the final 15 minutes, Espanyol would push for a shock equaliser. However, the Blaugrana managed to weather the storm, and late goals from Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford secured a resounding 4-1 victory.
Barcelona Open Up a Nine-Point Gap
The result could well be a massive one in the La Liga title race. Real Madrid’s shock 1-1 draw at home to Girona 48 hours prior opened the door for Barca to build a nine-point gap at the summit with just seven games remaining, and it was an opportunity that they grasped with both hands. Now, online betting sites are already crowning Flick’s men as champions.
The latest sports betting odds currently position the La Liga table toppers as a mighty 1/100 favourite to seal the title. To put those odds into perspective, one would have to place a bet of €100 just to secure €1 in winnings. Their archrivals, Real, are way behind at 33/1, odds that showcase the mountain they will have to climb if they are to somehow pip Barcelona to the crown.
So, Barca fans, are there any banana skins to avoid between now and the end of the campaign? Well, here are three fixtures we have earmarked as the toughest remaining tests standing between Barcelona and the title. You decide whether you think the title race is already over.
Getafe (A)
‘Haramball’ has been the talk of the 2025/26 season. That’s basically anti-football, negative, time-wasting tactics for those of you not on social media. Diego Simeone has become known for them at Atletico Madrid, albeit somewhat unfairly, considering the brilliant football his side has played in recent years. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are also coming in for criticism for employing such tactics in his side’s Premier League title race over in England this season.
Nobody, however, does it better than Getafe manager José Bordalás. “This isn’t football. It’s something else, and it makes my blood boil.” That’s what former Barcelona manager Quique Setién said about Getafe and Bordalás back in 2020. Six years on, they’re still doing their thing. And this season, they are reaping the rewards.
Geta Azulones are currently eighth in the La Liga table, just one point off of European qualification, and they have a game in hand on each of their rivals directly above them in the table. They have won four of their last five games, including an away win at Real Madrid and a home victory against Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona will have to visit the Coliseum before the season is over, and they will have to be careful to ensure that their possession-based football isn’t suffocated by Setien’s highly motivated side.
Real Madrid (H)
There is still one El Clásico to come this season, and if Barcelona do indeed slip up against Getafe, then a Real Madrid victory at the Camp Nou could well cut the gap at the top to just three points. Culers, however, can sleep somewhat soundly in the knowledge that they have a stellar recent record against their greatest rivals.
Barca beat Real no fewer than four times last season, completing a league double, as well as beating them in the finals of both the Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. In last season’s clash in Catalonia, the Blaugrana rallied from 2-0 down to win 4-4 en route to the title, as goals from Eric Garcia, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha (two) cancelled out a Kylian Mbappe hat trick. There are, however, a couple of causes for concern as well.
Los Blancos looked by far the better team when the two clashed in the Bernabeu earlier this season, winning 2-1 to hand the capital city side the bragging rights. Two years ago, they also won on enemy territory after Jude Bellingham’s stunning brace. With their season potentially on the line, Barcelona will have to be at their very best if they are to stave off their El Clásico nemesis one more time.
Valencia (A)
Valencia certainly aren’t the force they once were, and they have been embroiled in a relegation dogfight for much of the campaign. Barcelona will head to the Mestalla on the final day of the season, and if Los Che are still in relegation trouble, then they will be desperate to pick up three points, despite the gulf between the two teams. With seven games remaining, they are just three points clear of the drop zone, so the chances of them still being involved in the relegation scrap are quite high.
Carlos Corberán’s men had been looking like they were moving away from danger; however, a dismal run of three defeats in their last four, including losses to fellow relegation candidates Real Oviedo and Elche, has plunged them into danger once more. A wounded animal still bears teeth, and Hansi Flick will have to remember that on the final day of the season, should Valencia still be fighting for their La Liga lives.
