Although the scoreline suggests a close game, the fourth El Clasico of the 24/25 season was, just like the others, anything but.
Were it not for a contentious withdrawal of a penalty in Barca’s favour as well as the chalking off of what would’ve been one of the goals of the season, the score would’ve had a more accurate feel.
After 15 minutes it was difficult to see how the Catalans were going to get back into the game, however.
Real Madrid, and Kylian Mbappe in particular, had come roaring out of the blocks from the first whistle and two goals in the opening quarter hour silenced the Barca faithful.
FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF - La Liga EA Sports Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
As they’ve shown so many times this season, however, the Blaugranes are never dead and buried.
Four unanswered goals followed as the hosts completely took their visitors apart for the fourth time this season. The heart and spirit of this team really is something else.
The 4-3 win followed the Copa del Rey final victory over Los Blancos, the Spanish Super Cup final victory and a league win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In three of those four games Barca have scored at least four goals, and so not only has this been only the second time in history (after Pep Guardiola) that Barca have won four Clasicos in a row, but it’s possibly been one of the only periods where they’ve been so completely and utterly dominant in all aspects.
Real will point to a plethora of injuries that meant they were unable to field anything like a first-choice defence, but that would just be looking for excuses when, frankly, there can’t be any.
The match official appeared heavily in their favour at times and Barca would’ve been knackered after their Champions League exertions, and yet the eternal rival couldn’t take advantage despite this and having that two-goal lead.
FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF - La Liga EA Sports Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Kudos again must go to Hansi Flick and the players for playing a high line which is very high risk against the better teams.
One mistake and Barca are toast, but that hasn’t stopped the German routinely sticking to a way of playing which suffocates opponents.
A way of playing that will, most likely, bring the them Spanish top-flight title to add to their Copa del Rey victory.
Losing out in the UCL semis is a blow, but imagine being moneybags Real Madrid bringing in Mbappe and then ending the season with absolutely nothing.
When we look back on the season as a whole it’s been one of the best, and that’s worth celebrating.