Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time winner secured Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Barcelona in La Liga’s El Clasico and all but sealed the title for them.
Jude Bellingham fired home in the first minute of stoppage time after Real Madrid struck twice to equalize as Carlo Ancelotti’s side extended their lead at the top of the table to 11 points with six games remaining.
Barcelona twice led at the Bernabeu with goals in each half from Andreas Christensen and Fermin Lopez, but Real equalized each time through penalties from Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez.
Unbeaten in their 10 previous league games, Barcelona needed a win to extend their title hopes.
Los Blancos are now unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions and have lost just once in the league all season – to city rivals Atletico in September.
Barcelona started positively and were rewarded with a sixth-minute lead through Denmark and former Chelsea defender Christensen’s far-post header from Raphinha’s corner.
Real Madrid struggled to respond and Vinicius Junior twice went close to equalizing with a converted penalty in the 18th minute.
Lucas Vazquez appeared to trip over the outstretched leg of teenage centre-half Pau Cubarsi in the box and after the referee immediately pointed to the spot, Vinicius Junior made no mistake with his 13th league goal of the season.
Real Madrid were relieved in the 28th minute when VAR ruled that Lamine Yamal had not crossed the line near the post from another Raphinh corner after a lengthy review.
The visitors were put under more pressure from set pieces when Robert Lewandowski headed just over the next corner and the VAR penalty decision went to Real after Yamal went down under a challenge from Eduardo Camavinga.
But Los Blancos ended the first half strongly as Luka Modric and Federico Valverde saw efforts saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Jude Bellingham stung Ter Stegen on the palms of his hands early in the 2nd half with a powerful shot from outside the box.
The England midfielder was becoming increasingly prominent and his rake pass sent Vinicius Junior charging towards goal before he fired over.
But the next clear chance fell to Barca and Firmin, a half-time substitute for Christensen, fired it in front with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Yamal’s cross from the right almost caught Andriy Lunin off guard, and when the ball bounced off the Real keeper, Fermin turned the ball away from six yards.
But Barca’s lead was short-lived again. Vinicius Junior flicked in a cross from the left to the far post and Lucas Vazquez swooped in to head home the equalizer.
Ter Stegen made a brilliant save to deny Vinicius Junior at the near post before Jude Bellingham grabbed all three points for Real when substitute Josela headed over Lucas Vazquez’s cross and smashed the ball into the roof of the net at the far post.
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