As Raphinha rose to flick a flawlessly floated ball into an empty net, it felt as if the season had taken a tantalising turn.
Four months later, as the Brazilian did exactly the same, it almost feels as if he’s wrapped the whole thing up.
That incredible winner at Osasuna back in November – despite going a goal and a man down in the first half – sent Xavi’s side two points clear of the chasing pack. Now, after Real Madrid’s latest slip, the gap is nine, a margin that has never been overturned with just 14 games of the season left to play.
Though this weekend wasn’t a case of Barcelona simply looking just too good.
In a nervy, 1-0 win over struggling Valencia, featuring missed penalties and defensive scares, the league leaders put together arguably their twitchiest performance of the campaign.
But that doesn’t matter.
Their seventh 1-0 win of the season, their 11th by a one goal margin, Barcelona keep winning domestically, relentlessly.
Suffering and winning, it’s what LaLiga champions tend to do.
Real Madrid’s killer instinct, on the other hand, seems to come and go.
That remarkable 5-2 victory at Anfield has now preceded two goalless games, only the second time that Los Blancos have hit successive blanks in almost two years.
Throughout a thoroughly enjoyable game at the Benito Villamarín, the visitors had goals disallowed and saw dazzling drives flash over and wide. But ultimately, as Carlo Ancelotti himself admitted after the game, it was Thibaut Courtois who made the game’s two best saves.
Rodrygo missed a golden opportunity, taking his goalless run to eight matches. Nacho and Militão were denied.
Ultimately, though, a game that we’ve seen this title-chasing side win so many times before, slipped agonisingly away.
With a week to recuperate for the visit of relegation-threatened Espanyol, before the all-important trip to Camp Nou, Los Blancos aren’t out of it just yet.
With Ronald Araújo now suspended for a tough trip to Athletic Club next weekend, and also missing the Clásico, things can turn in an instant.
Mentally, though, as Barcelona stumbled to three points and Real Madrid scrapped for one, something seemed to shift.
Vamos a ver si hay Liga. Vamos a ver.