The biggest and most legendary poster in world football took place this Sunday evening in Spain with the trip of Real Madrid to Camp Nou to challenge their sworn enemy FC Barcelona, during the 26th day of La Liga. A meeting that smelled good of powder with the obvious rivalry between the two clubs, the title race still possible but also by the recent cross news in the Negreira affair causing a lot of ink to flow in the Spanish press. Moreover, if the match had started with a bang for the Blaugrana with three quick saves by the Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois on attempts by Robert Lewandowski (3rd), Raphinha (5th) then Sergi Roberto (6th), it was well the Merengues who opened the scoring quickly thanks to a lot of work from Vincius on the left side, author of a center diverted from the head by Ronald Araujo in his own cages (9th, 0-1).
The rest of the first half was an exchange of highlights between a calm and realistic Real Madrid on every rare attacking phase and a much more active and dangerous Barcelona in the Madrid box. For example, on several occasions, Xavi’s men almost equalized before the break. Twice, defender Andreas Christensen offered himself a great opportunity from a corner, with a solid deviation from the heel (24th) then from the head pushed back by an indefatigable Courtois (32nd). The powerful shot rolled up by Raphinha was also blocked by the Belgian goalkeeper but it was Sergi Roberto who managed to find the breach at the last second of the first act (45th, 1-1) with this strike near the surface , perfectly placed to deceive the Real Madrid goalkeeper. At halftime, the two rival teams pulled the plug with an achievement on both sides.
Franck Kessié blows up the 95,000 Camp Nou supporters!
In the second act, the Catalans always seemed a bit superior to their historical visitors, like this sublime center-shooting Sergi Roberto (52nd). But the Merengues never really appeared on the verge of drowning and always knew how to respond by relying on their two flanks, as with this volley narrowly missed by Federico Valverde (47th) following a breakthrough from Vinicius. Polish striker Robert Lewandowski tried by all means to put Barça in front, his attempts were never able to shake the nets of Thibaut Courtois. His first strike of the half was deflected by Éder Militão (62nd). He then showed great ingenuity to attempt a beautiful acrobatic recovery which missed the frame (67th). And finally, his pivot shot after a good markdown ended up in the small outside net (76th).
Barely entering the game, Marco Asensio took over, from the penalty spot, a cross brushed by Dani Carvajal but the referee Mr. Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea finally refused it using the VAR for an offside position. a small millimeter (80th). In the last moments of this beautiful intense battle, the Ivorian midfielder, Franck Kessié landed a powerful strike on a center back from Alejandro Baldé (90th + 1, 2-1), finally deceiving the wall Thibaut Courtois, author of six parades on the meeting. A very nice collective action which offered a precious symbolic success (2-1) for the Catalans. In the standings, FC Barcelona still remains at the top of La Liga, ahead of Real Madrid, which now points to twelve points from first place. After the international break, the people of Madrid will welcome Valladolid to Santigao Bernabeu, during the 27th day, while the Barcelonians will travel to Elche, still dead last in the Spanish championship standings.
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