Real Madrid players know only too well how one game can change a whole season, particularly if the game is one of the most famous and heated fixtures on the football calendar. 

Carlo Ancelotti's side are nine points behind archrivals Barcelona going into Sunday night's blockbuster showdown at Camp Nou. With a victory in EL Clasico, they can reduce the deficit to six points and keep their La Liga hopes alive. If they lose, the Blaugrana would all but secure the league title for the first time since 2019. 

It's extremely difficult to come out on top at Camp Nou. Barcelona boast the best home record in Spain's top flight this season, picking up 32 points from 12 matches. They have only conceded eight league goals so far, which is an incredible record at this stage of the campaign.

Nevertheless, lady luck smiled on Madrid just nine minutes into the tie as they went ahead against the run of play thanks to a bizarre own goal from Ronald Araujo, who deflected Vinicius Jr's speculative cross in at the near post. It was the first goal from open play Barcelona have conceded at home in domestic league all season long. 

Right on the stroke of half-time, however, Barcelona, who had more possession and more chances, responded to clinch a deserved equalizer through Sergi Roberto's fiery shot after Raphinha's initial effort had been blocked. 

Both sides pressed for a breakthrough after the interval, and a late smart finish from substitute Marco Asensio seemed to have helped Madrid bag much-needed three points and reopen the title race. But the reigning champions crashed back down to earth as the goal was ruled out for the tightest of offsides after VAR intervened.

Then came the lethal blow. With only a few minutes left to play, Robert Lewandowski's sensational backheel found Alejandro Balde, who had the composure to cut back for Franck Kessie to fire home the golden winner. 

With only 12 games remaining in the league season, it would be fair to say Barca's title destiny is absolutely in their hands. 

"You can never say the title race is over but we have now gone 12 points clear so it's difficult for them," beamed Roberto after the triumph. "It's down to us and that's the most important thing. I'm just glad to have helped the team with a goal. It was epic at the end and I'm pleased for Franck to get the goal.

"The game swung when we thought Asensio had scored, it was ruled offside and we scored. It feels even better when you win with a late goal and it's fantastic to do so in front of our supporters." 

Barcelona coach Xavi, meanwhile, told his players not to get too carried away. "It's not definitive but it's a very important step," Xavi told reporters. "Twelve points clear at the top of La Liga, we are having an extraordinary league campaign, I am very happy for that and proud to watch the team play." 

"But I don't have the feeling the league is won... I understand the fans singing 'we are the champions.' I think we deserved the win and we were better than Real Madrid, we created more opportunities.  

"It's a considerable advantage but we can't relax. The league is not decided."

The fact that Barcelona did not have a midweek fixture handed them a huge advantage. Madrid, who edged out English powerhouse Liverpool in a draining Champions League tie on Wednesday, were evidently a shadow of their former self.  

For all their underperformance, Madrid just needed one moment in front of goal to go their way but it did not happen, despite the slick footwork of Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga. 

At the latter stage of the hard-fought encounter, Ancelotti brought on Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy for Toni Kroos and Nacho to inject some urgency into a lackluster Madrid display, but it was Kessie who stole the show, and possibly wrecked Madrid's whole season.