Cristiano Ronaldo had a new haircut for the Nou Camp last night.
He knew half the world would be watching him.
Having scored hat-tricks in his last two games, Ronaldo\’s imperious first goal was a stunning reminder of how beautifully perfect football can be, especially as the goal came after 23 minutes of untidy play by both teams.
Clasicos can be very frantic and this one was squeezed into a 40-yard zone which shuffled up and down the pitch, reducing every player\’s time and space.
When Benzema tried a volley in 13 it was an airshot. The ball hit his standing leg, an abnormal moment for Benzema in an abnormal match. He\’s a very good striker who normally kicks the ball.
Real Madrid were jittery because they needed to win to stay in touch.
Ramos missed a sitter with a header from a corner, then, suddenly, a slick move, Benzema turned and supplied the unmarked Cristiano Ronaldo, who just rifled his left foot shot inside the post.
It was a moment of supreme authority by an astounding athlete and a consummate technician. The confidence with which he buried that chance was amazing to see, even after all the hundreds of goals we\’ve seen him score.
With less to worry about, Benzema then hit the post from 11 yards.
Then Dani Alves went off in injured and the rookie Montoya replaced him at right back.
In 30, a Pedro cross ricocheted off the boot of Ramos, hit Xabi Alonso\’s shin and squirted up in the air. When Pepe jumped too early, the ball hit him on the shoulder and broke for Messi to poke in from six yards.
That was the first chance the league leaders had created in half an hour and it was 1-1 at half-time.
Second half, Pepe fouled Iniesta just inside the box but the ref gave a corner.
Busquets tripped Ronaldo and got a yellow card, then Xabi Alonso\’s boot missed the ball by a whisker and clipped Messi to concede a free-kick about 25 yards out, centrally but on the right side.
Messi produced a free-kick of wicked velocity which whipped over the wall and flashed beyond the flying blue figure of Casillas.
Messi has scored 17 goals in Clasicos.
His free-kick made it 2-1 in 61 minutes.
Had Messi won La Liga again?
In the first week of October?
If Barcelona won this game 2-1, they would be 11 points above Real Madrid, last year\’s champions.
In 66, it was still high- tempo and when Ozil had the chance to play Ronaldo into the box, the £80 million gladiator stroked his shot home for 2-2.
Moments later Ronaldo injured his left shoulder attempting an overhead kick Kaka replaced Ozil, Arbeloa rammed his knee into the back of Iniesta, and then right back Montoya smashed a spinning ball against the crossbar of Casillas.
It was an electric game and the highlight of my weekend\’s football.
Pedro broke away for the last chance of the game in stoppage time but I knew he\’d shoot wide.
So fifth-placed Real Madrid have 11 points, Barcelona 19.
Atletico Madrid are second after beating third-placed Malaga 2-1.
Roberto Mancini was at that game and sitting next to Radamel Falcao\’s agent.
They saw Falcao score after six minutes.
When Emre hit a searching cross from the left, Falcao, just onside, dived forward to head in.
I love Falcao because he\’s a super-gladiator, a fearless striker with huge spirit, wonderful movement and incredible jumping ability.
He makes football exciting to watch.