El CLASSICO!!!

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Because of how big of a game El Clasico was, and how exciting it turned out to be, I had no choice but to devote this post to it alone. 

Both teams come into this game as equals. Barcelona and Real Madrid have had relatively shaky starts to the season by their standards, and the game could go either way. Zinedine Zidane had never lost a game at the Camp Nou coming into this fixture. This was Ronald Koeman's first Clasico as a coach, and he intends to show that he is worthy as a manager.

Barcelona starts by pressing intensively immediately after kick off, trying to narrow the passing lanes of Los Blancos. Madrid are very calm on the ball however, with Raphael Varane and Ferland Mendy getting high up the field and creating space. This looks effective so far, but the Barcelona fullbacks are doing their part to keep out the madrileños for now. Impressive starts for both teams.

Madrid’s determination to see out the attacks bears fruit, as they dispossess Barcelona during one of their plays. Karim Benzema then runs down the field, and passes a great ball through the static Barcelona defense, and to the feet of Fede Valverde! The Uruguayan rifles the shot past the fingertips of substitute keeper Neto! GOOOOOOAAAAAL!!! Gerard Piqué should be blamed for the goal, as he wasn't aware of where Valverde was, and wasn't marking anyone at all. Real Madrid have made the perfect start to the game, and should look to build off from where they succeeded. 

Only a few minutes later, Barcelona come back on the attack. Real Madrid can’t cope with the magic of Messi! The Argentinian lofts a perfectly weighted ball to Jordi Alba, who then lays a cross to Ansu Fati inside the box, to poke home beyond Thibaut Courtois!!! GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! 1–1!!! It is an instant response to conceding so early in the game. Sergio Ramos and Varane were in the area as well, but the delivery was spot on, so there was nothing that they could do about it. A scintillating first few minutes where neither team had really settled into the game, allows both teams to score one apiece. 

As the teams appear to have found their legs again and with the tempo leveling out, you can really see the quality from both sides. Sergino Dest looks super comfortable in his right-back position, even though this is his first Classico. Jordi Alba is playing his best game in years. His passes are crisp, he has great ball control, and his vision is on point. Toni Kroos's passes are again of the highest quality, most noticeably just now when he almost assisted Benzema in the 24th minute of the game, only for the Frenchman to fluff his lines and fire it straight to Neto! Incredible!

HALFTIME: BARCELONA 1–1 REAL MADRID

With the second half underway, Real Madrid really are starting to show how organized they are. Unfortunately the Blaugranas are reduced to passing to the back, and to the sides. Casemiro is keeping the midfield in check, while Ramos is showing the leadership that we all know, rallying his fullbacks to go where they need to be. Every pass that gets into the box is either cleared away from danger, or pounced on by Courtois. Real Madrid again continues to tire Barcelona out, creating attacks of their own.

On the hour mark--IT’S A PENALTY!!! Kroos delivers a great ball into the box from a free kick, after a handball from Dest. Clément Lenglet pulls on Ramos’s shirt, restricting his mobility. Although Ramos does exaggerate the circumstance by getting down on the ground, VAR takes a look at the situation, and deems it in fact a foul, contrary to the referees’ initial decision. Ramos steps up--Ramos scores!!! GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!! Although Neto guesses right and goes the correct way, the spot kick is low and hit with lots of power. Real Madrid are 2-1 up.

Real Madrid continue to apply the pressure on Barcelona. Just minutes later, a GREAT chance! Kroos receives a brilliant pass from Lucas Vasquez, and hits it straight at Neto. Neto then drops it, but saves it again from the German! Neto is having a top performance. Real Madrid are unlucky not to be 3-1 up. Barcelona, on the other hand, need to step up their game!

However, just minutes later, Luka Modric puts in a great through ball to Vinicius Jr, but Neto is there. Incredibly, he doesn't take hold of it as he slides in! This allows Rodrygo to regain possession, and pass back to Modric from just inside the box, with Neto off his line! Nobody pressures the Croatian, it seems that they were shell-shocked in the moment. The frantic Barca defenders in front of goal are not enough, and Modric clips the ball into the goal with ease!! GOOOOOOAAAAAALLL!!! A terrible play from the Barcelona defence! The game is set, and Real Madrid will be taking all three points home to the capital.

FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 3-1 BARCELONA

Real Madrid leave the Camp Nou with a well earned victory! Los Blancos were by far the better team overall, taking advantage of Barcelona’s lapses in stamina. Ronald Koeman has lots of work to do. The silver lining is the recent news of Josep Bartomeu resigning. This will be music to the ears of Blaugrana players and supporters.