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Real Madrid have the league title wrapped up after their spectacular 3-2 win over Barcelona.
Xavi’s team needed the win to close the gap to five points but defeat left them 11 points adrift with only 18 to play for.
The Barcelona boss was left moaning about the referee while Carlo Ancelotti could enjoy Jude Bellingham’s 21st goal of the season.
Here are 10 things we learned from the Clasico.
Jude Bellingham was once again the man of the moment after his late goal helped Real Madrid to a 3-2 win over Barcelona
Bellingham’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti (left), said the midfielder has been the ‘player of the season’
The tough times continue, however, for Xavi and his Barcelona side with the LaLiga title now all but gone
No one has been better in La Liga than Bellingham
‘Player of the season,’ says Carlo Ancelotti and who are we to argue?
Bellingham is the second top scorer in his first season in Spain and perhaps most importantly has scored three in the two league Clasicos that have helped decide the season. Spectacular.
Madrid could lift the title against Granada
Madrid now need seven points to win the league.
Assuming Barcelona don’t drop any more points Ancelotti’s team will be Champions if they pick up two wins and one draw against Real Sociedad away, at home to Cadiz, and away at Granada on May 12.
Barca may look to cash in on injured De Jong
Frenkie De Jong suffered his third ankle injury of the season. The problems have cost him three months out in total.
With Barca’s season over he must now concentrate on being fit for the Euros ahead of a summer when once again he will be the player other clubs want and Barca look to cash in on.
Frenkie De Jong suffered his third ankle injury of the season in the game and Barcelona could now cash in on the Dutchman
The midfielder, who will have no shortage of offers for the summer, was stretchered off in Madrid
Yamal can hold his head up high
It’s been a rough week for 16-year-old Lamine Yamal but he left his mark on the Clasico and picked up La Liga’s man-of-the-match.
His first season for Barcelona has been little short of astonishing and the future is still bright for Barca while they have a player who will not be 17 until July.
Xavi wrong to blame referee
According to the Barca coach, referee Cesar Soto Grado cost Barcelona the game.
‘I wanted him to pass unnoticed or get things right and he did neither,’ Xavi said.
His big call was the penalty and it would have been given by 99 out of 100 referees. And if he did get the ghost goal wrong it was not his fault.
No image of Yamal’s shot showed if the ball had crossed the line.
16-year-old Lamine Yamal can hold his head high despite enduring a difficult week on the field
Xavi, meanwhile, blamed the referee following his side’s late defeat – but was wrong to do so
Madrid have the talent for two teams
It’s hard to compete with a team whose reserve right back is the third best right back in La Liga.
Lucas Vazquez is behind Dani Carvajal and Jules Kounde but based on his performance on Sunday there is no one else better. He defended well, won the penalty, scored one and set one up.
Madrid’s strength in depth is brutal.
Xavi second best to Carlo
In all competitions Xavi has now lost his last four Clasicos.
At one point it seemed he had the measure of Carlo Ancelotti winning his first league Clasico against him 4-0. But since then he has been schooled by the old fox time after time.
Ancelotti has ousted Xavi in the last four Clasicos and is on his way to yet another league title
Cancelo fell short in Barca’s big week
It’s not difficult to see why Pep Guardiola decided Joao Cancelo was surplus to requirements at Manchester City. There have been flashes of attacking brilliance, particular when he first arrived. But defensively when it mattered he has not delivered.
He gave away the penalty against Paris Saint Germain in midweek. And he was Barcelona’s defensive weakness again on Sunday failing to pick up Lucas for Madrid’s second goal.
Barca have a big decision to make regards whether they try to sign him permanently.
Blame game cannot stop at Xavi
Xavi will get the blame for Barcelona’s trophyless season but questions need to be asked elsewhere.
In January they brought in Vitor Roque for £34.5million. He has warmed the bench in all the big games, scoring twice in LaLiga but looking raw and out of his depth. It was not the signing Xavi needed.
Joao Cancelo had a nightmare week and has not delivered defensively when it matters most
A decision, meanwhile, needs to be made around whether Xavi will stay in charge of Barca next season
Decision time now for Laporta and Deco
The Bernabeu chanted sarcastically for Xavi to stay, the question is will he? His proposed replacement Rafa Marquez has not excited the Barca fans.
Xavi would stay if the club asked him and gave him greater control over signings. But those things are unlikely to sit well with the club’s director of football Deco.
