Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid
BAR: Suarez 53’; RMA: Ramos 89’
BARCELONA // Two second half crosses, two headers and two goals were all that mattered in the clasico.
One each for Barcelona and Real Madrid, the latter in the 89th minute, meant Zinedine Zidane's side extended their unbeaten run to 33 games and retained their six-point gap over their greatest rivals. Another header, this time on the goal line by Raphael Varane in time added on, kept Madrid's record intact. That came from another header, this time from Gerard Pique.
It was a fair result. Madrid were superior in a first half lacking quality in attack, with the caution expected from two sides desperate not to lose.
Though far from their best, Madrid initially had the swagger of being top of the league with 25 wins and seven draws in that unbeaten run, and favourites for a first title in five years. Isco showed why he’s become integral this season, Lucas Vasquez shone from the second minute when his appeal for a penalty was only matched in strength by Javier Mascherano’s challenge.
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Luka Modric passed the ball with more accuracy than anyone on the field. Cristiano Ronaldo had three shots on target compared to one for the entire home side and Sergio Ramos congratulated Isco as both teams left the field at half-time. Madrid felt in control; they were obviously in control.
Barca came out for the second half in better shape. Awarded a free-kick after an unnecessary foul on him, Neymar whipped a cross goalwards and Luis Suarez lost his marker to head past Keylor Navas from close range. Madrid were stunned. The Costa Rican punched the ball away in frustration.
Though the roar of appreciation six minutes later from the 98,485 crowd – the biggest in world football this year – wasn’t quite as loud as the goal celebration, Catalans were delighted to see substitute Andres Iniesta enter the pitch to protect – and hopefully increase – their lead. His presence lifted them and Barca passed better and, urged on by the huge crowd, began to look more like themselves.
Between the goal and the arrival of Iniesta, Barca’s belief flooded back as they dominated the feisty, ill-tempered match. The mood contrasted with the pre-match when players from both sides mingled and stood side by side as the stadium paid its respects to those who died in the Chapecoense air disaster.
Neymar could have made it 2-0 after 67 minutes, but he curled his shot over Navas’ bar. Defender Jordi Alba put his hands on his face as if to ask: “How did he miss that?” An Iniesta shot a minute later was deflected wide.
Inconsistent in recent weeks and having their worst start to a league season since 2007/08, their mojo returned as they led their eternal rivals.
But Madrid weren’t beaten. Though a Ronaldo header threatened Barca’s goal, it was Ramos, the man whose 93rd-minute header had kept them in the 2014 Champions League final, who arrived to meet a cross from Modric. Barca’s marking was poor, the sighs around the giant stadium audible.
Madrid could have blown the league apart with a win. In the end, they’ll be happy to retain their significant lead after 14 matches and stretch their unbeaten run to 33 games.
“When they scored it lifted them,” said Zidane. “But we kept going and the heart of the team stood out again. We believed in ourselves again.”
Barca have already dropped nine points at home so far. They need to recover their home form before they can challenge the European champions. But they’ll be encouraged by their second half performance – and the influence of Iniesta.
“We had it in our hand,” said Luis Enrique, “we could have killed the game, we deserved to, but it was not to be.”
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