El Clasico teaches Xavi a lesson: Barca with a ball in possession, Madrid with three points in the bag
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 16.10.22. | 19:10
The Catalans dominated the pitch for most of the match, but the hosts were ruthless and won 3-1
Real Madrid have won another mythical El Clasico thumping their archrivals Barcelona 3-1 in a pulsating clash played at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon.
Karim Benzema and Fede Valverde paired up in the first half to decide the match, making all of Barca's flaws obvious and irreparable.
Benzema Still scoring in El Clasico eight years later... 😤🔥 pic.twitter.com/vZtA4GZD0J
— DEAN FOOTBALL⚽ (@DEANFOOTBALL1) October 16, 2022
Despite having the ball in their possession for most of the time, demonstrating Blaugrana's tiki-taka, Xavi's boys failed to make the most of it. Unlike them, Carlo Ancelotti's squad was much more intelligent, executing vicious counter-attacks and easily finding the back of Ter Stegen's net.
Benzema was the first to do so 12 minutes into the game after Vinicius Jr. pulled off an incredible run on the left. Ter Stegen managed to deny his effort, but Benzema had no mercy, putting his side deservedly in front.
IT HAD TO BE HIM.
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) October 16, 2022
BENZEMA SCORES HIS 12TH GOAL VS BARÇA#ElClásico pic.twitter.com/ajsIK4LGrh
The game's momentum didn't change, however, as Barcelona kept searching for that one goal. And none other than Robert Lewandowski was the closest to doing so, but his last-ditch effort went a few inches above the bar.
Almost instantly, Madrid responded in the best way possible, launching another highly pleasing fast-break. The ball went quickly from one player to another before Fede Valverde buried it smoothly to double the lead, 2-0.
Just look at the space Barcelona defenders provided Valverde with for that goal. New game, same old problems. pic.twitter.com/LSR6SieuML
— Umer (@Iconic_Messi) October 16, 2022
It was a gap too big for Barcelona, as Xavi's team struggled to create any more chances in the next almost 40 minutes. Ancelotti ordered his guys to slow down and keep the opponents as far away from their box as possible. With Dembele out of his form and Lewandowski bruised and battered by Los Blancos' defence, it was difficult to expect the miraculous comeback.
It could have been 3-0 instead, as Benzema fired one of those trademark super-accurate shots, but it was disallowed due to an offside. And just as we were approaching the end, Xavi's substitutes finally poured in some drama into the match. Ansu Fati danced on the left wing, crossing it wonderfully for Lewa, who unintentionally passed it to Ferran Tores for 2-1.
FERRAN TORRES GOAL pic.twitter.com/h1yOZsvcJU
— Ziad is NOT in pain  (@Ziad_EJ) October 16, 2022
Yet, there was no place for panic in Ancelotti's dugout, which resulted in a quick riposte through Rodrygo. He was taken down in the box before scoring from the spot for 3-1.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 9
Friday
Rayo Vallecano - Getafe 0-0
Saturday
Girona - Cadiz 1-1 (0-0)
/Stuani 90+12 pen - Fernandez 46/
Valencia - Elche 2-2 (2-1)
/Cavani 41 pen, 45+7 - Milla 29 pen, 65/
Mallorca - Sevilla 0-1 (0-0)
/Gudelj 53/
Ath. Bilbao - Atl. Madrid 0-1 (0-0)
/Griezmann 47/
Sunday
Celta - Sociedad 1-2 (1-1)
/Aspas 39 - Illarramendi 30, Zubeldia 54/
Real Madrid - Barcelona 3-1 (2-0)
/Benzema 12, Valverde 35, Rodrygo 90+1 pen - Tores 83/
19.30: (2.30) Espanyol (3.30) Valladolid (3.60)
22.00: (1.63) Betis (4.00) Almeria (6.50)
Monday
22.00: (1.66) Villareal (3.80) Osasuna (6.50)
***odds are subject to change
.jpg)
