LaLiga

Can Real Madrid still win LaLiga? What needs to happen in the title race

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admits Madrid “won’t give up,” despite being nine points behind with only seven games remaining.

FADEL SENNA

Roddy Cons

Digital sports journalist

Scottish sports journalist and content creator. After running his own soccer-related projects, in 2022 he joined Diario AS, where he mainly reports on the biggest news from around Europe’s leading soccer clubs, Liga MX and MLS, and covers live games in a not-too-serious tone. Likes to mix things up by dipping into the world of American sports.

Update: Apr 21st, 2026 12:34 EDT

“It will be a fight until the end. I know Real Madrid won’t give up.” Those were the words of Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick before his team faces Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Wednesday. Madrid are known as the comeback kings, but even their most devoted fans are unlikely to be overly confident about catching Barça, no matter what Flick says.

With just seven games remaining, Real Madrid are nine points behind their Clásico rivals, who appear just a couple of steps away from securing a second successive league title. There is even a chance Barcelona could seal the championship when the teams meet at Spotify Camp Nou on May 10, the nightmare scenario for Álvaro Arbeloa and his team.

But is there any chance at all of Madrid doing the unthinkable and somehow overtaking their archrivals at the top of the standings?

👊 Back to LaLiga tonight.@HP pic.twitter.com/XIOMaWDmjb
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 21, 2026

What Real Madrid need

Los Blancos will be aiming to win their last seven games, including El Clásico in Barcelona, to reach 91 points, a tally that would have been enough to win the title in six of the last seven seasons.

With no Champions League distractions, that is not entirely unrealistic, although they do face a tough away game at Real Betis on April 24, along with their trip to Spotify Camp Nou. The rest of their schedule, starting with Alavés at the Bernabéu on Tuesday, is against teams currently 10th or lower in the standings.

Madrid have already shown what they are capable of, winning eight straight LaLiga games between Dec. 14 and Feb. 14.

Why Barcelona remain in control

Even if Madrid win out, they will still need Barcelona to lose two additional games, on top of El Clásico, to take the title. The prospect of Flick’s team losing three of their final seven league games, when they have only been beaten four times in their first 31, feels highly improbable.

Barça appear to have a tougher run-in on paper, facing five of the league’s top nine teams before the end of the season. They have won all 16 of their home games in LaLiga, with every dropped point coming on the road. Still, they also boast the league’s best away record.

Trips to Getafe, Osasuna and Valencia, who could be fighting relegation on the final day, will test that form.

❝The elimination was really painful, but now we have to focus on the league. It’s close, but it’s not done yet. We have a points margin. We have to give it everything.❞

🗣️ Hansi Flick pic.twitter.com/EcDJLuGWry
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 21, 2026

The Clásico factor and tiebreaker

If Madrid’s hopes come alive and Barcelona slip twice elsewhere, both teams would finish on 91 points. In that scenario, Madrid would be champions by virtue of winning both Clásicos, as head-to-head is the first tiebreaker in Spain.

In simple terms, Madrid need to collect nine more points than Barcelona over the final stretch, provided they win at Spotify Camp Nou, something no team has done in LaLiga this season. A draw in Catalonia would also be enough to secure the tiebreaker after their 2-1 win at the Bernabéu in October.

The almost-impossible scenario

It is almost impossible to imagine a situation in which Barcelona win El Clásico and still fail to win the title. But in case you are wondering, Madrid would need to win their other six games to reach 88 points and hope Barça collect no more than nine points from their remaining fixtures.

If Barcelona picked up exactly nine points, they would still be champions with a two-goal win in El Clásico, while a one-goal victory would bring overall goal difference into play.

The league leaders are currently plus-18 in that category, another factor working in their favor.

Of course, it is highly unlikely to come to that, but, as Flick said, “Real Madrid won’t give up.”

Real Madrid’s remaining LaLiga schedule

Apr. 21: Real Madrid vs Alavés (17th)
Apr. 24: Real Betis (5th) vs Real Madrid
May 3: Espanyol (12th) vs Real Madrid
May 10: Barcelona (1st) vs Real Madrid
May 14: Real Madrid vs Real Oviedo (20th)
Weekend May 17: Sevilla (16th) vs Real Madrid
Weekend May 24: Real Madrid vs Athletic Club (9th)

Barcelona’s remaining LaLiga schedule

Apr. 22: Barcelona vs Celta Vigo (6th)
Apr. 25: Getafe (8th) vs Barcelona
May 2: Osasuna (10th) vs Barcelona
Weekend May 10: Barcelona vs Real Madrid (2nd)
May 13: Alavés (17th) vs Barcelona
Weekend May 17: Barcelona vs Real Betis (5th)
Weekend May 24: Valencia (13th) vs Barcelona