Barcelona move 12 points clear at La Liga summit with win over Real Madrid
Barcelona came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in El Clasico on Sunday night, with the Catalan outfit opening up a 12-point advantage at the top of the La Liga table.
An own goal from Ronald Araujo sent Real Madrid ahead at Camp Nou in the ninth minute, before Sergi Roberto levelled the scores in the closing stages of the first period.
Real Madrid thought that they had scored a second late on through Marco Asensio, but his effort was disallowed for offside, and there was to be late heartbreak for the reigning champions, with Franck Kessie deciding the contest in the 92nd minute.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side had been looking to cut the gap to six points with a third straight league win at Camp Nou, but Barcelona are now 12 clear of second-placed Los Blancos on the same number of games (26), placing them in a commanding position to win the title.
Real Madrid had an opportunity inside the first minute, with Karim Benzema finding space in a dangerous position, but the Frenchman’s low strike was kept out by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The home team then had two chances of their own in quick succession, with Robert Lewandowski being denied by Real Madrid stopper Thibaut Courtois, before the Belgian kept out a point-blank header from Raphinha.
Roberto was next to try his luck for Barcelona in the sixth minute, with the midfielder’s effort just missing the crossbar, as Barcelona continued to press high up the field.
It was Real Madrid that took the lead in the ninth minute, though, courtesy of an own goal from Araujo.
Vinicius Junior’s dangerous cross was met by Araujo at the near post, and the centre-back put the ball past his own goalkeeper Ter Stegen, who was powerless to prevent Real Madrid from making the breakthrough.
Raphinha found Andreas Christensen with a clever cross in the 24th minute, with the home side looking to hit back, but the centre-back’s header just dropped wide of the far post.
Christensen again came close in the 32nd minute, with the centre-back’s close-range effort kept out by Courtois, who then saved from Raphinha two minutes later, with Los Blancos firmly on the back foot.
Barcelona were able to level the scores in the closing stages of the first period, with Roberto finding the back of the net from inside the box after Raphinha’s strike had been blocked into his path by Antonio Rudiger.
It was no more than the hosts deserved, having dominated large stages of the first period, with Real Madrid fortunate to be on level terms at the interval.
Federico Valverde fired an attempt just wide of Ter Stegen’s goal early in the second period, before Luka Modric had a goal-bound strike blocked by Alejandro Balde in the 54th minute.
Lewandowski came close to sending Barcelona ahead just before the hour when he turned on the edge of the box before firing towards goal, but the ball deflected off Eduardo Camavinga and just wide of the post.
Rodrygo then had a shot blocked by Gavi down the other end, before Lewandowski missed the target with an extravagant bicycle kick, with the two teams still on terms heading for the final 20 minutes.
Courtois then saved from Raphinha before Lewandowski missed the post, but Real Madrid thought that they had taken the lead in the 81st minute through Asensio.
Dani Carvajal’s low cross found Asensio, who finished into the back of the net, but the Spaniard was marginally ahead of Jules Kounde, which saw the goal disallowed.
There was to be even later drama at Camp Nou, with Barcelona securing all three points in the second minute of added time at the end of the 90, as Kessie found the bottom corner with a well-placed finish after Balde had picked out his teammate at the far post.
Xavi’s side have now collected 68 points from their 26 league games this season courtesy of a record of 22 wins, two draws and two defeats.
Next up for Barcelona is a trip to basement side Elche on April 1, while Real Madrid will continue their league campaign at home to Real Valladolid on April 2.
