Barcelona 2 Real Madrid 1
For once Messi wasn’t electric in El Clasico.
It was more like Messi Unplugged.
One of the most unproductive games I’ve ever seen him play.
Neymar was pants as well.
Luis Suarez won it when Dani Alves measured a ball over the top for him.
Suarez took a lovely touch into the box and used his strength and determination to charge into a shooting position and then clipped his shot across Casillas into the far side of the goal.
A centre forward’s goal and a very fine one.
2-1 in 56 minutes.
AND THAT WAS THE FINAL SCORE.
Far too much diving in front of of a crowd of 98,760.
A long way from the best Clasico I’ve seen. Not even in my top 10
First half, Benzema was on fire, racing around at high speed. I’ve never seen him play like that!
Ronaldo volleyed against the underside in 12 and then Messi produced a pinpoint free-kick that Mathieu headed in for 1-0.
The Frenchman’s first league goal for Real Madrid was in a Clasico.
In 31, Neymar froze in front of Casillas and tapped a shot to the keeper. He thought he was offside and so did I.
Real Madrid immediately broke down to the other end, Modric found Benzema in the box, he backheeled into the run of Cristiano, who spurted forward to toepoke in for 1-1 at half-time.
Barcelona looked so lethargic that I began to wonder how much Manchester City had taken out of them. A lot, it seemed, on this evidence
Pique was omnipotent, however.
But the fans had gone very quiet.
Barcelona now have a four point lead in La Liga.
Sevilla v Barcelona is next week.
Sevilla are a very good side this season.
Barcelona won’t beat them by playing like this.
But a win is a win is a win. Luis Enrique was delighted on a hard night that eventually brought three priceless points.