Barcelona – Real Madrid

Barcelona – Real Madrid: historic Clasico, VAR debut, Suarez extravaganza, unexpected Ronaldo and the collapse of Lopetegui

The match, as well as the online broadcast of Barcelona – Real Madrid on Football 24, started at 17:15. The Catalans before Clasico lost in favor of Atlético (19 points) leadership in the championship of Spain, gaining 18 points, and the third line was sensationally occupied by their neighbor Espanyol (18). Real Madrid fell to 9th place (14 points) and had only to win if Lopetegui wanted to remain the head coach of Madrid.

The first moment came from Real Madrid. Marcelo left the defender on the left flank with a spectacular feint, after which Benzema completed a quick counter after Bale’s pass – higher. Barça’s debut attack ended in a goal. The predicted back pass for Alba’s move came as a real shock to the “creamy” defense. The defender of the hosts dragged the ball, paused and found the lone Coutinho with the perfect pass, who simply had no right not to realize this. The first goal of the Brazilian and the 3rd assist of the Spanish full-back in Clasico history! Coutinho’s compatriot Marcelo struck the first accurate shot on ter Stegen’s goal, but the German goalkeeper coped with a difficult ball.

Under a shower of yellow balloons (another political action in support of the independence of the Catalans?), Barça made a mistake Nacho, who could not stand the pressure. Arthur shot from outside the penalty area, and Courtois showed class, pulling the projectile from the top corner. At the 28th, for the first time in the history of the Clasico VAR, assistant referees checked the controversial episode behind the scenes. Varane kicked Suarez in the Real Madrid box. Chief referee Jose Sanchez did not wait for the verdict and ran to watch the fall of Luis himself. As a result, the Uruguayan nevertheless struck and converted a penalty, although the Belgian goalkeeper guessed the direction of the blow.

Barcelona – Real Madrid: online broadcast of the match

With an equal number of shots on target (3:3), Barcelona frankly reigned (61% of possession) on the field, were sharper at the gates of others and fairly obtained the advantage of two goals in the first 45 minutes. If we take into account the last 10 derbies, Real Madrid lost with a devastating score (3) more often than achieved a positive result (2 draws) after 0-2 at the Camp Nou in the first half.

At the start of the second half, Isco performed a cross from the right, while Marcelo played the role of Ronaldo, shooting the goal a la Coutinho in the first half. Lopetegui released Lucas Vazquez instead of Varan, moving Nacho from the right flank of defense to the center. The nominal winger made Real Madrid’s game higher, riskier, but also productive. Already Madrid began to win the fight thanks to the pressure near someone else’s penalty area. And now Modric hits the post on the 56th.

Calmed down, Barça could regain their scoring lead. Suarez effectively punched in the fall after a cross from the right flank – only the bar saved Courtois. In the first 20 minutes of the second half, Real Madrid’s dominance of 56% possession, 8:3 in shots was already palpable. However, the Catalans did not particularly panic. Busquets completed another counterattack, but Sergio missed the minimum. In response, Benzema missed with a header from a few meters away, losing a candy pass from Vazquez.

Suarez actually nailed the guests with a perfect shot from the second floor. Sergi Roberto, as in training, found the head of the Uruguayan. Then Sergi Roberto gave another assist on El Pistolero. Ramos failed, giving the ball to the Spaniard, he instantly brought Suarez one on one, and Luis did not know mercy today. Arturo Vidal came out for a few minutes and managed to score Barcelona’s 5th goal. Dembele broke the right flank of the Madrid team, hung, and the failed Ramos and Casemiro did not even try to prevent the Chilean. Courtois also parried a scorpion blow from Suarez. Knocked out “kings” allowed the hosts absolutely everything at the end of the meeting.

Barcelona pick up 21 points and return to the top, pushing Atlético to second position. Real… only in 9th place, with a miserable 14 points (less than half of the possible).