The 208th meeting between these two fearsome competitors was billed as the title decider. Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Madrid knew that only a win would suffice. Already on borrowed time, as a result of Madrid’s European heartbreak, it would be an understatement to say this game defined his Los Blancos tenure and the direction of the La Liga crown.
Domestic, European, individual and worldwide success has cut this current Barcelona crop as the game’s greatest team. With superlatives on short supply, a cultured, professional and clinical performance for the Catalan’s placed one of Carlos Puyol’s hands, clenched firmly, on this year’s La Liga with Madrid now needing a seamless miracle to claw back a three point deficit with Spain’s head to head ruling seeing Barcelona, twice, coming out on top in this seasons meetings between the sides.
Two different fortunes for a Catalan hero and a Madrid hero, respectively.
It was who else then Argentinean wizard Lionel Messi, of course whom jinked and weaved expertly in the Real Madrid box to clip the ball home past Iker Casillas midway through the first period following an undefendable pass by Xavi Hernandez, the supremely gifted Spaniard orchestrating and providing a vivid heartbeat to this mesmeric Catalan team.
Chances were far a regularity, from both sides, but Barcelona’s fatal killer instinct in front of goal proved decisive as Real Madrid’s attempt to stop their great rivals success laden march into the new decade took a devastating knock as Xavi, once again, played a pin-point through ball behind the Los Blancos backline where the scampering Pedro beat the trailing Alvaro Arbeloa with ease to then curl the ball past Casillas from the edge of the area, cutting a prosperous eerie feeling ringing around the Bernabeu.
With the cynics out ready to question Manuel Pellegrini, the Chilean boss through everything forward in a largely uneventful Clasico where the ability to finish was key.
He’s many people’s choice for Spanish number one, and Victor Valdes, of whom was tested, was never going to be beaten by a barrage of hopeful Real Madrid attempts. Ailing shots by Ronaldo, not for a want of trying, Higuain, Gago and Van der Vaart who woefully hit the ball straight at Valdes when clean through in the second period, were all Los Blancos could muster as the damage had already been done.
Lionel Messi could and probably should of had the last laugh with a fifth hat-trick of the season. Twice he scuttled effortlessly into the Madrid penalty area only for Casillas to be on hand to divert two efforts, on both occasions around the post.
Insult to injury would have been a Barcelona third though. Madrid, battered, bruised and dejected cannot deny the brazen class difference between an established line-up and a growing Florentino Perez dream. The flow of history now seems to be heading Barcelona’s way in a season where there just seems to be no let-up under the hard task master, that is Pep Guardiola.
Let’s not forget though, the headlines and accolades may all be falling the way of the little master Messi, but it is Xavi Hernandez whom is the platform for Catalan success.
Real Madrid:
Casillas 7: A bit static on both goals but made two superb saves from Messi. Outdone by Valdes.
Arbeloa 6: He always put in a good shift, but was undone by the pace of Pedro.
Sergio Ramos 6: Rash in the tackle but didn’t give up the ghost.
Abiol 6: Turned by Messi for the opening goal, but no one can seem to stop the little magician at the moment.
Garay 6: Steady game, with a red hot plate in front of him to deal with.
Gago 6: Got about the pitch well, but added little, should have been replaced by Lass in the second half.
Alonso 6: Tried to pull the strings but was outclassed by his Spanish compatriot Xavi.
Van der Vaart 6: His glorious opportunity went a begging, that goal could of gave Madrid a one way ticket back into the match.
Marcelo 6: Average from the Brazilian, looked out of his depth in midfield.
Ronaldo 7: Never stopped trying and looked the most likely for Madrid even if he had to go on his own. He needs to learn how to interact with the team more.
Higuain 6: Grilled in the Madrid press, but he only had one half chance in a quiet game. The Argentine can feel unlucky that people are questioning him particularly after the season he has had.
Substitutes: Guti 7: Always had the creative spark, and may have made a difference if he was in from the start. Raul 6: Unlucky with disallowed goal because of Benzema hand-ball, maybe his last Clasico? Benzema 5: Looks dis-interested at the moment, for a player worth 30 million pounds it appears unclear where his next goal will come from.
Barcelona: Valdes 7: Puyol 7: Pique 6: Milito 6: Maxwell 7: Busquets 6: Xavi 9: Keita 7: Alves 5: Messi 8: Pedro 8: Substitutes: Iniesta 5: Marquez 6:
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