BEVERLY HILLS, April 11, (THEWILL) – The second 2020/2021 season showing of one of the greatest rivalries in European sports and world football between La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, accurately termed “El Clasico”, finished in Real Madrid’s favour on a sodden night at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium allowing Los Blancos move to the summit of the standings for the first time since November.
Early first half goals from the revitalised Karim Benzema and midfield anchor Toni Kroos were all the hosts needed to seal a significant 2-1 win over Barca and tighten the screw on the already taut title race, which appears poised to go down the wire with a single point gap between joint first, Real and Atletico on 66, and second Barca on 65, at least until Atletico play Real Betis on Sunday.
Still basking in the afterglow of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg triumph over Liverpool in midweek, Zinedine Zidane’s charges were quick off the paces to go two goals ahead with only half an hour of football played. Benzema’s sublime flick and Kroos’ deflected free-kick made sure of that.
Although Barcelona defender and man of the match, Oscar Mingueza caused a dramatic final half-hour with his second goal of the season, to half the deficit, and Casemiro was sent off in the 90th minute, Madrid’s stout defending and solid goalkeeping by Thibaut Courtois helped Real to a third consecutive win against Barca in all competitions for the first time since 1978.
The three points mean Real, who started the day in third place leapfrogged both Barca and city rivals Atletico to the top of the League on a temporal basis as Diego Simeone’s side still has that game in hand against Betis, and so can quickly reclaim top spot after that Sunday tie.
The poor defensive first half by Barcelona’s recent standards let Benzema end his run of nine appearances against Barca in all competitions without a goal, which was his longest such run against a single opponent as a Madrid player. He would be pleased that it came in one of the best Clasico matches in years, after some critics were beginning to question if it was still worth calling it a classic.
Benzema’s goal made him the fourth Madrid player to score in seven consecutive La Liga games this century, giving him a pass into the exclusive class of Los Blancos greats to have reached that milestone such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
Yet, the match was competitive enough to prove that the two sides still have much to give, which will make for an tough and interesting end of the season in the title race. With their newfound taste for victories at home and in Europe, Madrid will approach the final eight games of the domestic season with the confidence of conquerors.
However, it will be foolhardiness to simply write off Barca from the title chase. Even if the Catalans’ run of nine consecutive away wins in La Liga was brought to a crashing halt, they remain only a point behind Real on the table.
Barca captain and superstar forward, Lionel Messi, had another uncharacteristic blunt showing with neither a goal nor an assist, even as he remained in the thick of the action throughout. It was not for want of trying because his record seven shots were four more than any other player on the pitch. He also had two key passes in his statistics for the game.
That alone will suffice for another player but it falls dreadfully short of the standards he had accustomed the world to see, enjoy and always expect of him with otherworldly consistency. Yet, this will be his seventh straight goalless Clasico, which is the longest streak of his career against Los Blancos. If he moves to another club at the end of the season, that could be the end for El Clasico as it has come to be known.
Although Messi’s overall performance was nothing to sneeze at, he did not do enough to earn the typical best player of the tie award so often plastered on him. there was a new kid on the block, Mingueza.
The youngster was the only bright spot and slotted in for Sergiño Dest in the second half, when the American was substituted for the introduction of Antoine Griezmann. Mingueza’s goal testified to his determination to help Barca get something out of the game, as was his goal-line clearance right after scoring. He capped the overall game by getting Casemiro sent off, which is a lot of an achievement.
Ronald Koeman’s charges have a lot to rethink ahead of the Spanish Cup final in a week. All is not lost in La Liga but it very well could if their defensive holes are not plugged. Zinedine Zidane, on the other hand, appears to have saved his job with the team’s progress domestically and in Europe. But it gets tougher here on out.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
