EL CLASSICO 10.12.2011

El Clasico -- Real Madrid v Barcelona December 10th, 2011

The Real Madrid bus was mobbed as it approached the Bernabeu for the Clasico. There was quite an atmosphere minutes before kick-off.

When the action did get underway it took just 23 seconds for Real Madrid to score the fastest Clasico goal ever, a horrific Victor Valdes kick resulted in Karim Benzema scoring from close range. Barcelona responded and Lionel Messi saw his jinking run and shot saved by Iker Casillas. On the half hour Barcelona responded, Messi played in Alexis Sanchez who fired low past Casillas. Towards the end of the half Lionel Messi was booked for dissent and could well have received a second for a foul just before the break. Eight minutes after half-time Barcelona took a 2-1 lead and it was a hugely fortunate goal as Xavi's shot spun off Marcelo past the despairing hand of Casillas and in off the post. On 66, just after Cristiano Ronaldo had missed a sitter, Barcelona put together a trademark free-flowing move that culminated in Alves crossing for Cesc Fabregas to head home with a diving header at the back post.

Real Madrid: Iker Casillas, Lass Diarra, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo. Xabi Alonso, Coentrao, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria, Karim Benzema & Cristiano Ronaldo.

Barcelona: Victor Valdes, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Eric Abidal, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi & Alexis Sanchez.

EL CLASICO

Fourth 5-0 win over the eternal rival

Real Madrid CF's unbeaten opening to the Liga campaign came to a shuddering halt at Camp Nou as FC Barcelona crushed José Mourinho's men 5-0 in the season's first 'Clásico'.

Josep Guardiola's team never looked back after storming into a two-goal lead inside 18 minutes with strikes from Xavi Hernández and Pedro Rodríguez. David Villa's double in the space of four second-half minutes underlined the superiority of the home side on the night with Jeffren ensuring Madrid were toppled from the summit to two points behind an irrepressible Barça.

Barcelona quickly forced their rivals into retreat and Lionel Messi's brilliance almost broke the deadlock after five minutes, his sublime curling effort striking the far upright. The Catalan faithful did not have long to wait for the opener, though, as Andrés Iniesta's purposeful burst and incisive pass allowed Xavi to poke past Iker Casillas from close range in the tenth minute.

Ángel Di María tested Víctor Valdés as Madrid attempted to establish a foothold but instead the rug was pulled from under them as the hosts added a second. Xavi fired a cross-field pass that found Villa in space, the striker darting past Sergio Ramos and driving in a low cross that evaded the grasp of Casillas leaving Pedro the simplest of finishes.

Mourinho shuffled his pack at the interval with Lassana Diarra replacing Mesut Özil but the Blaugrana continued to dictate with Villa thwarted by Casillas and Xavi slicing into the side-netting with the goalkeeper scrambling back shortly after the resumption.

The third goal, ten minutes after half-time, came as no surprise with Messi's scything pass controlled by Villa and the Spain striker finishing with aplomb across the face of Casillas. Los Merengues were shell-shocked but Messi and Villa were relentless, another through ball from the Argentinian schemer dispatched by his strike partner on 58 minutes to send the Camp Nou supporters into early victory celebrations.

There was time for a final hurrah in stoppage time as Bojan Krkić sped down the right flank and crossed for fellow substitute Jeffren to flip a nonchalant fifth past a bemused Casillas. Madrid's misery was compounded when Sergio Ramos received a red card to complete a remarkable evening's entertainment.

VIEW THE GOALS !!!

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REAL MADRID- FC BARCELONA 0-2

EL CLASICO - 10.04.2010

REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA

0-2

(MESSI,PEDRO)

4th WIN CONSECUTIVELY FOR BARCELONA (IN EL CLASICO)

CONGRATULATIONS BARCELONA!

CONGRATULATIONS GUARDIOLA & YOUR SUPER TEAM!

EL CLASICO 10.04.2010

EL CLASICO

REAL MADRID-FC BARCELONA

~SPOT~

EL CLASSICO : REAL MADRID-FC BARCELONA 2-6 (02.05.2009)

The season-defining Classico opened at a furious pace and with goals to boot. Gonzalo Higuain sent the Bernabeu wild crashing home a header from Sergio Ramos’ cross after 14 minutes. Barca were behind only momentarily, Thierry Henry drawing the Catalans level after a give-and-go with Leo Messi. And then captain Carlos Puyol completed the turnaround for the league leaders heading home a Xavi free-kick. In the 35th minute Lassana Diarra was knocked off the ball by Xavi and, after releasing Leo Messi, the magical Argentine grabbed a killer third. The second half maintained the same frantic pace, and it was Real Madrid who again struck first as Sergio Ramos was left unmarked to head home a Robben free-kick. But Barca quickly netted their fourth, Xavi (again!) made the pass to free Theirry Henry and, after the Frenchman beat Casillas to the ball, slowly the ball found its way into the net. Then the amazing happened as Barca hit top gear, a stunning performance by Xavi saw the midfielder tee up Leo Messi for his second and in the final stages of the match Gerald Pique crashed home a historic sixth - Barca’s 100th goal of the season.