Marcus Rashford scored a brilliant free-kick as Barcelona clinched back-to-back La Liga titles with a 2-0 win over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Both goals came in the opening 18 minutes as Rashford’s stunning curling effort in the ninth minute was quickly followed by a second from Ferran Torres.
Marcus Rashford celebrates his free kick (Getty)
Jude Bellingham put the ball in the net for Real in the second half but it was ruled out for offside and the visitors were second best throughout the night.
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Barca could have had more but Thibaut Courtois produced fine saves to deny Rashford and Torres.
El Clasico victory lifted Barca 14 points clear at the top of the table with just three games to play and they could yet finish the season with 100 points.
It was an emotional triumph for manager Hansi Flick after the passing of his father this weekend.
“I will never forget this day,” Flick said. “It was a tough day for me. It starts with this [news that] my father passed away, but here, my team were fantastic. I really love it, this is like a family and they gave everything today and I’m really proud. It’s amazing, in this stadium, and also in the Clasico against Real Madrid, to win La Liga.”
Hansi Flick could celebrate at the end of a tough day (AP)
Defeat continued a week of turmoil for Real Madrid, who remain without Kylian Mbappe as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Midfielders Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni were each given hefty fines having been involved in a training ground bust-up that reportedly left the Uruguayan hospitalised.
PA
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