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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Sergio Perez
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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates scoring their first goal with Sergi Roberto REUTERS/Juan Medina
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Barcelona's Lionel Messi scores from a penalty kick during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul White)
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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale after falling to the ground REUTERS/Stringer
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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale has a shot at goal which is saved by Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen REUTERS/Paul Hanna
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MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 23: Fans look on in the sunshine during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 23: Luis Suarez of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 23: Daniel Carvajal of Real Madrid is shown a red card by referee Jose Maria Sanchez during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Sergio Perez
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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates scoring their first goal with Sergi Roberto REUTERS/Juan Medina
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Barcelona's Lionel Messi scores from a penalty kick during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul White)
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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale after falling to the ground REUTERS/Stringer
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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale has a shot at goal which is saved by Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen REUTERS/Paul Hanna
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MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 23: Fans look on in the sunshine during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 23: Luis Suarez of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 23: Daniel Carvajal of Real Madrid is shown a red card by referee Jose Maria Sanchez during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Real Madrid outfought and out-thought as Barcelona take giant stride toward Primera Liga title
A 14-point gap represents a near insurmountable challenge, particularly given Barca's remarkable form this season, writes Andy Mitten.
![Andy Mitten](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fca636888-7403-4841-a383-5ce6cc29b5aa.png?smart=true&auth=ebd777e2b441f819401f9dee171fc4f3f13859817c837f95882998414722e0b9&width=70&height=70)
Andy Mitten
23 December, 2017
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