A disgrace at the Santiago Bernabéu. Barcelona dominated El Clásico and reduced the lead to 12 points

The Spanish El Clásico, which took place yesterday at the Santiago Bernabéu, was dominated by FC Barcelona after a dominant performance, bringing their lead over Real Madrid to twelve points. TheCatalans still have a game to play.

On Sunday evening, the 249th El Clásico between La Liga leader Real Madrid and the third place team in the Spanish league, FC Barcelona, led by club legend Xavi, took place at the famous Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The home team from the Spanish capital had to do without their biggest star, French canonist Karim Benzema, who is having a phenomenal season this season.

In the first half of El Clásico, Barcelona surprised the home team from Madrid

From the very first minute, the match was adorned with an amazing pace and although the visitors pounced on their traditional rival from the opening whistle, at least in the first fifteen minutes the White Ballet players looked like they could handle the pressure. Although the Catalan team had a slight advantage early on, it was the home team’s Rodrygo and Valverde who were the first to threaten from quick counter-attacks.

But the first big chance of the game was on the hoof of new star signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who only hit the gloves of Thibaut Courtois after a close-range Ferran Torres centre. The latter confirmed the amazing form that saw him awarded La Liga’s best player of February before the game. In the 18th minute Barcelona threatened again, but Torres’ shot from outside the sixteen just missed the home goal.

But Real Madrid did not listen to their opponent’s threats, and so came a fair penalty. Damned Frenchman Ousmane Dembelé forced his way through a one-on-one battle on the right wing past home captain Nacho and a beautiful centre was capitalised on by a header from the unmarked Aubameyang. It’s certainly worth noting the strange defending of home stopper David Alaba, who went into the centre with a pointless foot instead of clearing the ball with his head.

Young starlet Vinicius Junior could have equalised after a lovely counter-attack. However, he dribbled the ball away in an independent tackle on Ter Stegen and tried to simulate a penalty kick in close proximity to the visiting goalkeeper. But the referee didn’t fall for it and two minutes later Barcelona struck for the second time. After Dembelé’s corner kick, Catalan full-back Araujo got into a header duel with Alaba and split Courtois’ net for the second time. Home coach Carlo Ancelotti thus had some explaining to do to his team at half-time.

After the change of sides, the home side’s frustration continued and Barcelona disgraced a tragic Real

Although a much-improved display was expected from the home side, seconds into the second half Real again fell down defensively and let themselves be flushed by Ferran Torres, who raced in alone from midfield to Thibaut Courtois’ goal. However, in a 100 percent chance, he punishingly missed the home side’s net.

But the Catalan players’ raised finger was not taken seriously by the home defence and the visitors increased the gap to three goals in the very next minute. After a beautiful action by Aubameyang, who found a completely free Torres with his foot, this time the young Spaniard made no mistake and silenced the home fans. Real’s players were characterised by considerable passivity in their defensive duties in their own half of the pitch and were asking for a proper embarrassment with their professorial football.

It came after five minutes, when a long ball was worked beautifully by Torres and passed to a completely free Aubameyang.

He sealed the debacle for Los Blancos with a beautiful long ball. Although the linesman raised the flag for alleged offside, VAR ruled the goal awarded. The unfortunate David Alaba was forgotten behind a pair of stoppers, confirming the tragic approach of Real Madrid’s defence, which put in a truly dismal performance that evening. Thibaut Courtois then went on to prevent several more huge Blaugrana chances and the Catalans, under the baton of coach Xavi, put in an almost flawless performance. They shamed hosts Real Madrid in their own stadium 0:4.

The biggest club match not only in Spain is over and especially Real Madrid fans will want to forget it as soon as possible. Barcelona crushed the La Liga leader in training and reduced its lead at the top of the table to a difference of twelve points. The star of the match was January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored two goals and assisted one.

Source: Marca