Seven reasons why Barcelona shouldn't panic despite damaging defeat in El Clasico

So that's the season over then, right?! Barcelona lost El Clasico to Real Madrid on Saturday in the most narrow of circumstances, as they failed to track Jude Bellingham into the box — handing him an easy tap-in to win the game in stoppage-time. That goal came 20 minutes after a 30-yard screamer from Bellingham, a shot that was comfortably within Marc-Andre ter Stegen's eyeline, but was hit with such venom and just enough backspin that one of the world's best goalkeepers couldn't get near it.

Those two moments have, apparently, ended La Liga's title race before it really begun, with Madrid now four points clear of the Blaugrana at the top of the table. Except, they really haven't — not yet, at least. Clasico defeats always feel worse than any other for whomever ends up on the wrong end of things. Even early in the season, they function as a means of comparison.

In reality, though, there was little to separate the two sides this time around. Xavi got his tactics right for Barca, and he admitted after the game that he felt good about the performance. They were a 93rd-minute goal away from a respectable point. Sometimes, it just comes down to the other team having one world-beating player. There is no shame in that.

And more broadly, this season is far from over. While the points dropped will hurt and the social media chaos will serve as a means of distraction, Barca are still very much in this. There is a time and a place to panic; the Blaugrana aren't there yet.

GOAL takes a look at why, exactly, heads should remain cool in Catalunya...