Barcelona vs Real Madrid: The Five Crucial Fixtures That Could Decide La Liga's Championship Battle

What might prove to be a pivotal week in the 2025–26 La Liga championship race concluded with Barcelona establishing a four-point advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Just two weeks prior, the current Spanish titleholders lost their top position to Álvaro Arbeloa's squad following a disappointing loss to Girona. However, successive wins against Levante and third-positioned Villarreal silenced the concerns echoing across Catalonia.

Meanwhile in Madrid, crisis discussions returned to the spotlight. Real Madrid dropped from league leaders to enduring consecutive losses against Osasuna and Getafe, dampening their recent championship momentum.

The battle for Spain's top prize remains wide open, however, and a series of difficult matches—particularly for Barcelona—approaching could write another chapter in this already fluctuating La Liga championship contest.

Barcelona, Real Madrid's Next Five La Liga Games

Barcelona, Real Madrid's Next Five La Liga Games

Barcelona may have overcome third-placed Villarreal, but that represented merely the initial challenge in a demanding sequence of fixtures awaiting the Catalans. Ahead lies a journey to San Mamés, a formidable task for any Spanish club despite Athletic Club's recent form struggles.

Sevilla present an even greater challenge to Flick's squad. They previously demolished Barcelona 4–1 in the earlier meeting, and they benefit from facing the current Spanish champions following their Newcastle Champions League encounter.

Following that are Rayo Vallecano, who have achieved some notable results this campaign against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. However, their current poor run likely creates an opportunity for the Catalans to secure a comfortable victory before the March international pause.

When domestic competition resumes in April, the defending La Liga winners face immediate pressure against Atlético Madrid and Espanyol, two strong adversaries fully capable of defeating Flick's team.

Real Madrid's upcoming two adversaries are Celta Vigo and Elche, both sides that claimed points from them under previous manager Xabi Alonso. Theoretically, the Spanish powerhouse possesses sufficient attacking strength—despite Kylian Mbappé's injury absence—to overcome both teams ... provided they avoid the same weaknesses that emerged in the earlier encounters.

Before Los Blancos can consider the March international break, they must first face Atlético Madrid. No club has troubled the 15-time European champions more over the past three years than their city rivals, and pressure mounts on Arbeloa to alter this pattern in his inaugural Madrid derby as manager.

After the international period, Real Madrid return to league action with a visit to Mallorca. The relegation-threatened team has suffered seven defeats in nine matches during 2026.

Girona, the subsequent challenge for Los Blancos, represents a significantly tougher proposition. The Catalans inflicted Barcelona's fourth La Liga loss in 2025–26, and consistently raise their performance for major fixtures—regardless of their league position.