Barcelona Maintains La Liga Lead, Madrid Trails by Four

Federico Valverde's 93rd-minute goal gave Real Madrid a crucial 1-0 win over Athletic Club, keeping them four points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race. Real Madrid played without suspended star Kylian Mbappe and rebounded from a heavy Champions League defeat to Arsenal, which impacted their hopes for additional trophies this season. Vinicius Junior was a standout performer, while Valverde's late goal provided a much-needed morale boost. Athletic Club, recently reaching the Europa League semifinals, posed a significant challenge despite rotating their squad. Barcelona maintained their lead with a comeback win over Celta Vigo and remain contenders for the treble, facing Real Madrid in the upcoming Copa del Rey final. Both teams are now focused on the crucial final weeks of the season.