After trailing early Real Madrid stormed back at the end of the first half and dominated the second half in what can only be described as an awesome display of counter attacking football.
The Galacticos were sensational on the break punishing Barcelona when given the opportunity.
Barcelona were very much in the game in the first half but a few costly mistakes through loss of possession and a Gerard Pique handball cost them the game.
Suarez had an above average debut for the Catalan giants and although he didn’t cause Casillas too many problems he was lively enough where he was able to effectively contribute with high levels of involvement.
Messi was a non factor in the second half as he struggled to create once Madrid took a late second half lead.
Isco, Modric, Ronaldo and Carvajal were the stars for Real Madrid and seemed to be a the heart of everything they did going forward. Carvajal was particularly impressive and made a number of vital challenges that either directly or indirectly prevented Barcelona scoring opportunities.
The game lived up to the hype but ultimately Real Madrid proved to be the better side as they eventually outclassed their Catalan rivals once they took the lead as Barcelona struggled playing catchup.
It was the first time Barcelona conceded all season but this game will most likely be treated as an aberration to what has been a fantastic campaign so far. Madrid close the gap to one point and now sit in second place behind their rivals and have firmly put themselves back in the title race.
FINAL SCORE:
Real Madrid 3
Barcelona 1
The first El Clasico of 2014 is upon us as Real Madrid host Barcelona at Santiago Bernabéu. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:00am (AEDT).
This fixture couldn’t have come at a better time as not only will this be the pick of any game in Europe this weekend but it also see’s the return of one of world’s football finest strikers, Luis Suarez.
It’ll be Suarez’s first competitive match for Barcelona and carrying a €94 million price tag all eyes will be on the fiery Uruguayan.
The El Clasico – a football purists dream and a derby that ranks amongst the best in world football. Rarely will you see any game with more individual talent on a football pitch than this one, and this year is no exception.
Ronaldo vs Pique, Messi vs Ramos, Kroos vs Iniesta and the list goes on and on; there are mini matchups all over the field, but at the end of the day both sets of players are only focused on one thing – getting all three points.
Barcelona sit atop of the table in La Liga with Madrid just four points behind them in third. The Catalan giants for years have been the poster boys of beautiful pass and move football but it’s their defence this year that is getting all the headlines having yet to conceded a goal in eight league games this season.
Pique and Mathieu look like they have been playing together for years and have responded extremely well to new manager’s Luis Enrique increased emphasis on defence.
As well as they have performed defensively, Barcelona are running into an attacking juggernaut in Madrid who have scored an astounding 30 goals in only eight La Liga games, including 10 in their last two.
Barcelona have been magnificent defensively but have yet to play a team with Madrid’s attacking quality and haven’t faced the likes of Ronaldo, Benzema, Rodriguez, Kroos and co. But with that being said, Madrid haven’t faced a team with Barcelona’s attacking quality as in case you haven’t noticed, Messi, Neymar, Suarez, Xavi and Iniesta aren’t exactly slouches in the Barcelona attack.
With this amount of attacking talent on one football pitch you’d expect a high scoring affair and hopefully we’re in for something similar to last year’s matchup were we were treated to a seven-goal attacking masterclass.
Gareth Bale is ruled out with a thigh injury while youngster Jese is also out for the game. Barcelona however have no major concern with only Thomas Vermaelen likely to be the big name to be left out of the team.
This one is always a spectators dream so be sure to tune in with The Roar from 3:00am AEDT.
If there’s any game your going to get up out of bed for this year, it’s this one!
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
Full Time - After trailing early Madrid stormed back at the end of the first half and dominated the second half in what can only be described as an awesome display of counter attacking football. The Galacticos were sensational on the break punishing Barcelona when given the opportunity. Barcelona were very much in the game in the first half but a few costly mistakes through loss of possession and a Gerard Pique handball cost them the game. Suarez had an above average debut for the Catalan giants and although he didn't cause Casillas too many problems he was lively enough where he was able to effectively contribute with high levels of involvement. Messi was a non factor in the second half as he struggled to create once Madrid took a late second half lead. Isco, Modric, Ronaldo and Carvajal were the stars for Real Madrid and seemed to be a the heart of everything they did going forward. Carvajal was particularly impressive and made a number of vital challenges that either directly or indirectly prevented Barcelona scoring opportunities. The game lived upto the hype but ultimately Real Madrid proved to be the better side as they eventually outclassed their Catalan rivals once they took the lead as Barcelona struggled playing catchup. It was the first time Barcelona conceded all season but this game will most likely be treated as an aberration to what has been a fantastic campaign so far. Madrid close the gap to one point and now sit in second place behind their rivals and have firmly put themselves back in the title race.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
90 - Madrid are winding down the clock and are passing the ball around with ease as this one is all but in the books. RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
88 - Modric comes off and is also treated with a hero's response from the crowd after having a fantastic game. He completed 44/49 passes and was magnificent, assisting on a goal and making some key interceptions throughout. RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
84 - Madrid committing plenty of numbers back and seem content to try and grind this one out, denying Barcelona players any openings and content to play possession football if the counter attack is not immediately available. RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
81 - Isco comes off to a rousing reception from the Madrid fans after putting in a sublime performance in the place of the injured Gareth Bale. He is replaced by Asier Illarramendi RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
78 - Suarez makes a nice run into the box and turns his man with a chance to shoot but takes an extra touch and the ball is knocked away form him before he can get a shot off. Barca's best chance of the last ten minutes and he never even got a shot off. RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
74 - Barcelona continue with their tiki taka style football but down two goals they may need to play a more direct style of football if they want to pull one back as with just over 15 minutes left they are starting to run out of time. RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
70 - Iniesta goes to the ground around the halfway line untouched and immediately puts his hand up asking to be subbed. He grabs his calf and it would appear he's pulled his calf muscle. He's able to walk off the field with minimum assistance from the team's physio. RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
68 - Barcelona struggling to create at the moment as Madrid commit plenty of numbers back and appear content to counter attack. Suarez tries to pick out Neymar at the backpost but the Brazilian does not have the aerial presence to win contested battles for balls in the air. Barcelona need to score next and need to do it quick if they want to get something out of this game, RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
65 - Barcelona with a nice passage of play but ultimately cant do anything with it and Sergio Ramos dispossess Suarez and clears the danger. RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
60 - GOAL - Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. A sublime display of counter attacking football culminates in a super tidy Karim Benzema finish to give Madrid a two goal cushion and a 3-1 lead. Isco disposses Iniesta down the right wing and from there passes it to Ronaldo who relays it to Modric who plays through Benzema into a space where only he can get it. counter atttacking football at its finest and words can't really do it justice. RM 3-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
57 - Suarez goes down with Ramos giving him the slightest of knocks but Suarez gets up furious and gives the linesman an earful.Replays indicate that it was indeed not a foul. RM 2-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
54 - Suarez and Neymar combine beautifully with some excellent passing and great runs making football look easy. The two cover nearly 70 yards in a couple of seconds and would have nearly equalised if it hadnt have been for a Suarez slip at the final hurdle RM 2-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
50 - GOAL - Pepe gives Madrid the lead with a powerfully struck header off an excellent ball in from an inswinging James Rodriguez corner. Pepe somehow gets loose at the backpost and rockets it into the bottom left corner giving Bravo no chance. Well taken goal but some shady defending to say the least from Barca. RM 2-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
48 - A nice counter attack by Madrid see's Ronaldo and Marcelo link up as Marcelo sets Ronaldo free down the wing and continues his run into the box looking for the return ball which is expertly intercepted by Gerard Pique. RM 1-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
46 - Luka Modric escapes without a yellow card after taking down an advancing Suarez about 25 yards out from goal. Leo Messi stands over the ball and strikes the free kick but it goes straight into the wall. RM 1-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
HALF TIME - Neymar opened the scoring early on and Ronaldo leveled things up with a late first half penalty after a moment of Pique idiocy. One striking feature of the El Clasico has been the skill level as many have already elaborated on as the range of passing and movement is rarely duplicated in any other match. However,with all the attacking talent on the field both teams have been quite cagey as both appear to have massive respect for the oppositions attack and it is evident in their defensive setups as both teams seem content to attack through counter attacking. Carvajal has been brilliant for Madrid making a number of key challenges and clearances that have ensured that Madrid enter half time with scores all square. At the opposite end of the field Mathieu has looked out of place at left back, giving the ball away a number of times carelessly and not providing the same attacking threat that Jordi Alba would going forward. Expect to see Alba introduced at some stage throughout the second half
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
42 - James Rodriguez with a golden opportunity to take the lead for Madrid as a brilliantly crossed ball in from Marcelo finds James in the middle of Pique and Mathieu with a free header but the Colombian doesn't really get any power behind it and the header drifts aimlessly wide. RM 1-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
41 - Both teams have been playing end to end football but clear cut chances have been few and far between as defensively both sides have denied and suffocated one and other in the final third RM 0-1 BAR
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
37 - Iniesta comes in late and cleans Modric out of it and becomes the 4th Barcelona player to be booked this half, Definite foul but a booking can be considered quite harsh in this instance. RM 1-1 BAR