FC Barcelona moved nine points clear at the top of LaLiga after a commanding 4-1 victory over RCD Espanyol, but manager Hansi Flick insisted the title race is far from decided with seven matches still to play. The Catalan side strengthened their position following another setback for Real Madrid CF, who dropped points again to increase Barcelona’s advantage in the standings.
Ferran Torres scored twice, while Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford also found the net as Barcelona recorded their eighth consecutive league victory at Spotify Camp Nou. The win followed Real Madrid’s draw against Girona FC, which came after their recent loss to RCD Mallorca, allowing Barcelona to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Despite the growing points gap, Flick emphasized that the LaLiga title has not yet been secured and warned his players against complacency. He stressed that while the nine-point advantage is encouraging, the team must remain focused and continue delivering strong performances until the championship is mathematically confirmed.
Torres’ first-half brace gave Barcelona a comfortable lead before halftime, ending a 13-match scoring drought for the forward. Pol Lozano briefly revived Espanyol’s hopes with a goal in the second half, but Yamal’s 15th league goal of the season and a late strike from Rashford sealed an emphatic victory for Barcelona.
Fans remained inside the stadium after the final whistle chanting in support as attention shifted to Barcelona’s upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Atlético Madrid. Atlético secured a 2-0 win in the first leg, but Flick expressed confidence that his team can mount a comeback in Madrid, highlighting the squad’s strong morale and belief ahead of the crucial European clash.
