Barcelona vs Real Madrid: The Five Crucial Fixtures That Could Decide La Liga's Championship Battle
Barcelona and Real Madrid are exchanging positions at the summit of La Liga, creating an intense struggle for the Spanish championship.
Los Blancos gained momentum when they secured the league's top position last weekend, establishing a two-point advantage over their fierce adversaries following an impressive 4–1 triumph against Real Sociedad. However, their reign at the peak proved brief after a damaging 2–1 loss to Osasuna on Saturday opened the opportunity for the Catalans to respond.
Hansi Flick's squad capitalized on this chance against a faltering Levante team, earning a convincing 3-0 triumph at Camp Nou. These three points restored the reigning Spanish champions to the top position, reducing the impact of their 2–1 setback against Girona on Monday.
Currently just one point divides these eternal rivals, and a demanding schedule of upcoming matches for both Barcelona and Real Madrid may introduce additional drama to the 2025–26 La Liga championship race.
Barcelona, Real Madrid's Next Five La Liga Games
Barcelona, Real Madrid's Next Five La Liga Games
Barcelona (61 points) | Real Madrid (60 points) |
|---|---|
Villarreal (H) – Feb. 28 | Getafe (H) – Mar. 2 |
Athletic Club (A) – Mar. 8 | Celta Vigo (A) – Mar. 7 |
Sevilla (H) – Mar. 15 | Elche (H) – Mar. 14 |
Rayo Vallecano (H) – Mar. 22 | Atlético Madrid (H) – Mar. 22 |
Atlético Madrid (A) – Apr. 5 | Mallorca (A) – Apr. 5 |
Barcelona must now gear up to face third-placed Villarreal to conclude February. The Catalans receive the additional advantage of welcoming the Yellow Submarine to Camp Nou, where they remain unbeaten since their return to the legendary stadium in November.
Following that is Athletic Club, a squad that—theoretically—usually presents a significant challenge to Barcelona, but Ernesto Valverde's team has allowed nine goals while failing to score in their two encounters against the defending Spanish champions this campaign.
Sevilla, however, arrives with the extra motivation of having achieved a 4–1 triumph in the earlier meeting. Regardless of their present form, they consistently elevate their performance for major matches, similar to Rayo Vallecano. The Madrid-based club has claimed points from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid this season.
Regarding Los Colchoneros, they will be awaiting the Catalans following the March international break. Atlético Madrid will sense vulnerability if any sluggishness affects Barcelona upon their return to league competition.
Real Madrid will be eager to begin March with maximum points against Getafe, a challenge that has proven relatively straightforward for the Spanish powerhouse in recent seasons. Celta Vigo away presents a considerably tougher examination, particularly after they humiliated Los Blancos in December.
Elche, their subsequent opponents, are narrowly avoiding the relegation zone, and a visit to the Bernabéu should prove overwhelming for the troubled team. Nevertheless, they may feel more optimistic than warranted after earning a draw with Real Madrid during the club's poor run under Xabi Alonso.
Then, awaiting the 15-time European champions is Atlético. Based on how tight the table remains at March's end, the pressure will exceed that of a standard Madrid derby. Should Diego Simeone's squad repeat their September demolition, the consequences for Real Madrid could extend well beyond the bitter disappointment of losing to their city rivals.
After the international break, Arbeloa's team travels to Mallorca. The home side may enjoy crowd support, but they lack the attacking quality to match Los Blancos at peak performance. However, Real Madrid are certainly not immune to upsets, particularly in matches they're expected to win.