Overview
- Barcelona, which beat Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday, opened a nine-point lead over Real Madrid with seven LaLiga matches left.
- Lamine Yamal set up two goals and scored another on his 100th league appearance at age 18, steering a first-half brace for Ferran Torres before adding the third.
- Hansi Flick said the title race is not settled and argued Barcelona can overturn Atlético Madrid with a near-flawless display after a 2-0 first-leg loss in the Champions League quarter-final.
- Frenkie de Jong returned from a hamstring layoff with a second-half cameo, his chance to start in Madrid will follow medical checks, and Flick expects defender Gerard Martín to be available as Pau Cubarsí serves a suspension.
- Post-match tensions spilled into the tunnel and Yamal posted a pointed message on social media, drawing criticism from Espanyol’s Pol Lozano and underscoring the derby’s heated backdrop.