Three takeaways for Hansi Flick from Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid | La Liga | OneFootball

Barcelona completed their fourth win over Real Madrid this season in emphatic fashion as they came back from a 0-2 deficit to register a 4-3 win at Estadi Olimpic de Lluis Companys on Sunday evening.

The fixture was a must-win one for Real Madrid, given the situation in the league title race, and they came out all guns blazing to take three points against their arch-rivals.

As Lamine Yamal told after the Copa del Rey win, however, Real Madrid simply could not outscore Barcelona and outdo the Blaugrana’s attacking prowess and eventually fell short on all fronts.

Hansi Flick and Co. are thus just one win away from securing the league title and have bounced back strongly after the heartbreak in Milan.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points from Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid.

Almost the same script

Barcelona once again thrashed Real Madrid. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

While Barcelona fans across the globe were looking towards El Clasico as their chance to move past the horrors in Milan, the game at Montjuic followed a queerly similar script that triggered serious PTSD.

Once again, Barcelona found themselves quickly 0-2 down on the night with one goal from open play and the second from the penalty spot.

Unlike the game in Italy, where they pioneered a comeback in the second half, however, Barcelona scored four goals in the first half to help the team to a 4-2 lead despite the early setback.

A third goal for Kylian Mbappe after the break, however, put Barcelona back under pressure with their lead cut to one point. As the clock approached the final whistle, one could not help but go back to the game against Inter Milan.

Just like the Nerazzuri had a chance in extra-time that they capitalised on to level the score midweek, Real Madrid had two glorious chances in the dying minutes that Barcelona should be grateful they could not bury.

The script following a largely similar pattern, needless to say, is no coincidence but a testament to the fact that Barcelona have not learnt from their mistakes.

Serious questions to be asked about referees

Refereeing decisions were questionable. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

A lot was said about the refereeing in Milan, where the Italian outfit was blatantly favoured by the match official over Barcelona.

Last night, once more, the Catalans fought a battle not only against Real Madrid but also against the referee, for it seemingly appeared that no decision was intentionally made in their favour.

For starters, the first penalty for Kylian Mbappe stemmed from a move where the Frenchman was clearly offside. Some claim Pau Cubarsi made contact with the ball, but that was never clarified on a replay, nor did VAR make anything of the situation.

To make matters worse, Aurelien Tchouameni was just shown a yellow card for a last-man foul on Ferran Torres, and VAR once again felt it was too trivial a situation to intervene in.

Later in the game, the Frenchman clearly blocked Ferran Torres’ goalbound volley with his arm, and the referee bafflingly did not give Barcelona a penalty despite the clear contact. Further, a clear penalty on Lamine Yamal and Raphinha was not even entertained.

Barcelona and Hansi Flick have always been respectful to match officials, unlike Real Madrid, who openly call out and pressurise them ahead of games. For the Blaugrana to suffer for their sportsmanship, needless to say, is unwarranted.

On the cusp of a domestic treble

Barcelona are cruising. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Regardless of all the twists and turns the Clasico took, the better team took home the three points and thus enjoyed a massive boost in the title race.

It was always clear that the game between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday afternoon would have a massive impact on the league title race, and a look towards the standings confirms the same.

Only three matchdays remain in La Liga, and Barcelona now sit on a staggering 82 points in the league. Real Madrid, after today’s defeat, are seven points behind the Catalans.

In the best-case scenario of Los Blancos winning all their games from here on, they can only collect nine points and end up with 84 points.

Barcelona, meanwhile, can surpass that tally with just one win and can thus mathematically seal the La Liga title with a win over their rivals Espanyol midweek.