By Sachit Subba • Football • Apr 05, 2026 04:57 AM • 34 views
This weekend changed the La Liga title race, giving Barcelona a big advantage. While Real Madrid lost late in Mallorca, Barcelona capitalised with a tough win in Madrid. With eight games left, Barcelona's seven-point lead now makes it much harder for Carlo Ancelotti’s team to defend their title.
Muriqi’s Stunner Shocks Madrid in Injury Time
Real Madrid’s hopes for the title took a big hit with a 2-1 loss to a determined Mallorca team. Even with their top players on the field, Madrid couldn’t convert scoring opportunities created early in the game. Kylian Mbappé, who leads the Golden Boot race with 23 goals, attempted several close shots on goal, but Mallorca’s goalkeeper Leo Roman saved each of them.
Mallorca took the lead in the 41st minute, Manu Morlanes finding the net with a well-placed strike. Chasing the game, Madrid manager Ancelotti responded in the second half by introducing VinĂcius JĂşnior and Jude Bellingham, hoping their speed could spark a comeback. The gamble seemed to work when Éder MilitĂŁo connected with a Trent Alexander-Arnold set piece. In the 88th minute, his powerful header drew the teams level.
But Madrid’s celebration was short-lived, as Mallorca quickly broke forward on a counter-attack early in stoppage time. Mateo Joseph set up Vedat Muriqi, whose winning goal—his 19th of the season—gave Mallorca a crucial boost in their relegation fight. While Madrid stays at 69 points, Mallorca climbs to 17th with 31 points.
Lewandowski Decides a Fiery Clash in Madrid
Taking advantage of Madrid’s loss, Barcelona earned a tough 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid in a match full of VAR decisions and physical play. This result puts Hansi Flick’s team at 76 points with a solid seven-point lead.
The game heated up in the 39th minute when Giuliano Simeone, son of manager Diego Simeone, put AtlĂ©tico ahead with a calm finish. Barcelona answered quickly, just three minutes later, as Marcus Rashford showed great composure and rounded goalkeeper Juan Musso to score the equaliser. The game changed in first-half stoppage time when AtlĂ©tico’s Nicolás González received a straight red card after stopping Lamine Yamal’s clear run on goal with a late tackle. Even with ten players, AtlĂ©tico stayed organised. In the second half, Barcelona’s Gerard MartĂn was initially sent off for a late tackle on Thiago Almada, but after a VAR review, the referee downgraded the card to yellow, allowing MartĂn to remain on the field. The winning goal came in the 87th minute. JoĂŁo Cancelo drove a powerful shot at the goal, which Juan Musso parried but failed to control. The loose ball bounced off Robert Lewandowski’s shoulder and into the net. While not a stylish finish, this improvised goal was among the season’s most significant for Barcelona. season.
Conclusion: A Decisive Weekend in the Race for Gold
With the weekend over, the La Liga standings now look very different. Barcelona’s tough win at the Metropolitano especially stands out compared to Real Madrid’s struggles to finish games against teams lower in the table, changing the title landscape.
Current Standings:
Barcelona: 76 pts (1st)
Real Madrid: 69 pts (2nd)
Atlético Madrid: 57 pts (4th)
Even though the league is still important, both Barcelona and Atlético need to focus on their next challenge. They will face each other again this Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Atlético will be eager to bounce back, while Barcelona hopes to show that its strong league form can carry over to Europe.
