FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid : El Clasico match report
Cristiano Ronaldo scored late as 10-man Real Madrid stunned Barcelona 2-1 on Saturday at the Camp Nou to win El Clasico and end their rivals’ 39-game unbeaten streak.
FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid : El Clasico match report
Gerard Pique had given Barca the lead before Karim Benzema answered for Real, and though Sergio Ramos was sent off, Ronaldo found the winner soon afterward.
Barcelona regained their form, and Navas made a spectacular save to deny Messi’s chip in the 55th minute, but the breakthrough came moments later. Following a Rakitic corner, Pique broke free of Pepe’s marking to head in Barcelona’s opening goal.
Real Madrid were back level seven minutes later as Toni Kroos’ pass from the wing took a deflection that lofted it high in the air, and Benzema scored from an acrobatic play.
Zinedine Zidane thought his team had taken the lead from Gareth Bale’s header in the 79th minute, but the goal was harshly ruled out as the referee judged that the Welshman had pushed Jordi Alba while leaping for the ball.
Ramos was sent off in the 84th minute for going into the back of Suarez, which gave Barcelona hope they could find a winner. But Ronaldo silenced the Camp Nou crowd a minute later after he controlled Bale’s lofted cross, allowed Dani Alves to pass him and finished through Claudio Bravo’s legs.
Ronaldo’s goal was the 16th of his career in El Clasico, which put him ahead of Raul for the third most all time, following Messi’s 21 and Alfredo Di Stefano’s 18. Ronaldo has eight goals in his past six games for Real Madrid.
Messi, who was seeking his 500th career goal for club and country, remains goalless in his past five games against Real Madrid.
A stunned Barcelona walked off after losing at home for the first time since February 2015 against Malaga, a span of 34 games.
