How Barcelona have blown Real Madrid away in La Liga's title race

The Blaugrana are nine points clear going into Sunday's Clasico at Camp Nou, meaning victory would all but secure top spot

It wasn't supposed to look like this. Barcelona were supposed to just about keep pace with Real Madrid this year. But they weren't supposed to win La Liga.

That they would be nine points clear in March – and show few signs of slowing down – was unthinkable.

Yet here they are. Barca are far and away the best team in La Liga this year, clearing every hurdle as they sprint towards a first La Liga title in four years.

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And matched up against a Madrid side coming off a domestic-European double, with perhaps another Champions League to come, such a successful season is undeniably impressive.

But this hasn't exactly come out of nowhere. Barcelona are not good by chance.

Indeed, they have all the pieces of a league-winning team, with just enough edge to presumably fight off any late charge from Los Blancos.

Victory this weekend, in fact, would effectively signal the end of the title race.

Below, GOAL takes a look at why Barcelona are so far ahead of Madrid with just 13 games to go...