Barcelona deserved more at the Bernabeu, but Real grabbed the title with a twist in mega-battle (VIDEO)

Real Madrid beat Barcelona in El Clasico #257 within La Liga in the round of 32. Thus, the “whites” increased the gap with the Catalans to 11 points and confidently look towards the 36th title of Spain. “Blaugranas” are second with 70 points – 6 rounds before the end of the season.

Andreas Christensen opened the scoring for the Bernabeu in the 6th minute, but Vinicius Junior equalized 12 minutes later from a penalty awarded for a foul on Kubarci on Vasquez.

Fermin López put the Catalans ahead again in the 69th minute, but just 4 minutes later Vázquez capitalized on a great pass from Vinicius Junior to equalize again. In 90+1 Bellingham formed the final 3:2.

In the added time of the first part Frenkie de Jong was seriously injured and was carried off the pitch on a stretcher. He was replaced by Pedri and his condition remains to be determined.

The match at the “Santiago Bernabeu” was contested, interspersed with moments, at a high pace. The five goals were the icing on the cake for the crowd in Madrid. However, there will certainly be criticism of the referee of the match, Cesar Soto Grado, who twice made controversial decisions, both to the detriment of the visitors.

Here’s how the match unfolded:

FIRST HALF

Active play from both teams in the opening minutes. GOAL! Barcelona tries to pressurize the opponent and in the 6th minute surprisingly reached a goal. Rafinha made a great cross from a corner, and Christensen jumped over Kroos and headed the ball into the goal of Lunin, who failed to intervene well in the situation – 0:1!

Two minutes later, the “Kings” reached a dangerous situation in the visitors’ penalty area – Modric headed the ball for Vinicius Junior, who shot over the goal. Barcelona continued to press and in 14′ Lamine Yamal broke down the right, raced Kamavinga and got somewhere between a cross and a low-angle shot, forcing Lunin into the mix.

Two minutes earlier, Real had a free-kick in front of the Catalans’ goal after a foul on Vázquez by Cancelo. However, during the performance, only a shot over the goal was achieved. In the 17th minute, Lucas Vazquez made a very masterful move into the opponent’s penalty area, but collapsed after coming into contact with Kubarsi.

GOAL! The situation demanded to be addressed, but it was not – Cesar Soto Grado pointed to the penalty spot and Vinicius leveled the scores, although Ter Stegen guessed the angle he was going to hit. This is the 13th goal for the Brazilian this season in La Liga.

In 28′, Barcelona reached a very dangerous situation in front of the home goal, after Lamin Yamal played the ball and Lunin had to take it from his own goal line. There were doubts that the ball crossed the goal line, but in the end there was no goal for the visitors “on the advice of VAR”.

Barcelona continued to insist and look for another goal in the goal of the “whites”. In 38′ Joao Cancelo’s shot made the Ukrainian box. A minute before the end of the first half, Ter Stegen saved Luka Modric’s frontal shot. In the 45th minute, Gundogan’s free kick went inches wide of the crossbar.

In one situation, when Real went on the counter-attack, Valverde injured Frenkie de Jong, who was carried off the field on a stretcher. His place in the Barcelona lineup was taken by Pedri.

SECOND HALF-TIME

The energy from the first half carried over into the second half after the break. A great battle on the field and a tie on the scoreboard. Xavi Hernandez has made one change to his squad – goalscorer Christensen did not start after the break, making way for Fermin Lopez.

In 58′, Lopez fell to the grass in the penalty area, but the referee, for whom this is his debut El Clasico, did not allow any claims for a penalty. Five minutes later, Xavi made a double substitution, with Lewandowski and Rafinha leaving the game and bringing on Ferran Torres and Joao Felix.

In the 67′, Barcelona launched a very fast counter-attack, finished by Ferran Torres, who shot wide of the goal. GOAL! Despite looking less dangerous compared to the first half, the Barcelona team managed to take the lead again in the 69th minute. Then Lamin Yamal looked for Torres from the edge of the penalty area, the striker missed the ball, Lunin boxed, and the ball bounced to the lurking Fermin Lopez, who sent the ball past the Ukrainian goalkeeper for 1:2. good position. However, a signal was given that the Spanish international had been ambushed.

However, the joy of the Catalans did not last long – 4 minutes later, the home team returned to the game. Vinicius from the left sent a great pass to the right, where Lucas Vazquez, left uncovered, played without stopping, sending the ball into the net behind Ter Stegen – 2:2.

In 78′, a great counterattack by the “Kings” nearly brought them a complete turnaround. Vinicius Junior advanced at speed and reached the penalty area, from where he launched a dangerous shot that Ter Stegen stopped with his body.

In the 82nd minute, Vinicius was substituted to the applause of the home stadium. Nine minutes later, Vasquez, who had a strong game tonight, found Jude Bellingham on the left with a wonderful pass, and the Englishman scored the winning goal in the Catalans’ goal – 3:2.

In 90+5′, Antonio Rüdiger intervened twice well in the final assault of the visitors from Catalonia.

In the 82nd minute, Vinicius was substituted to the applause of the home stadium. Nine minutes later, Vasquez, who had a strong game tonight, found Jude Bellingham on the left with a wonderful pass, and the Englishman scored the winning goal in the Catalans’ goal – 3:2.

In 90+5′, Antonio Rüdiger intervened twice well in the final assault of the visitors from Catalonia.

Starting lineups

Real Madrid: Lunin, Vasquez, Chuameni, Rudiger, Kamavinga, Modric, Valverde, Kroos, Vinicius, Rodrigo, Bellingham

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Cancelo, Araujo, Lewandowski, Rafinha, Christensen, De Jong, Gundogan, Kunde, Yamal, Kubarsi

Before the match

This will be El Clasico #3 for the current campaign. On October 28, Jude Bellingham single-handedly pulled off a turnaround for Madrid and helped Montjuic win 2:1. On January 14, Real defeated the Catalans in the final of the Spanish Super Cup with 4:1 after a hat-trick from Vinicius.

If Carlo Ancelotti’s graduates live up to expectations and win the match today, they will come as close as possible to the record 36th title. Today, the Italian will not rely on Alaba and Courtois.

Only Balde and Gavi are not available for Barcelona. Today, the reconstructed Santiago Bernabeu is expected to host the match with the roof closed. The last championship success of the Catalans as guests is from the spring of 2022.