El Clasico LIVE: Barcelona vs Real Madrid LIVE – Barcelona increased their advantage at the top of La Liga to 12 points with a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid. Ronald Araujo’s odd own goal gave Real the lead in the opening minutes of El Clasico. But, just before halftime, Sergi Roberto’s superb finish gave Xavi’s team the equaliser. Franck Kessie’s finish following a brilliant counterattack in stoppage time gave Barca the three points at Camp Nou. Follow La Liga LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
El Clasico Highlights: Franck Kessie, Sergi Roberto on TARGET, Barcelona CLAIM double over Real Madrid to go 12 POINTS in lead – Check Highlights
Gavi, Raphina, and Lewandowski lead the attack, with many FCB fans surprised to see Sergi Roberto start the game instead. The Real Madrid starting lineup features Camavinga, Modric, and Kroos in the centre of the park, with Vini, Valverde, and Benzema on the flanks. Araujo vs Vini Jr. is back on the agenda, and the Uruguayan defender got the better of the Brazilian winger during their recent Copa del Rey meeting at the Bernabeu.
While an early Madrid goal appeared to have given Real a sense of confidence and the chance to salvage something from their trip, Barcelona dominated possession and the number of significant chances as they scored on the stroke of halftime and at the end of regulation through Sergi Roberto and his second-half replacement Franck Kessie, respectively.
FULL TIME!!!!! #ELCLÁSICO IS OURS!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/8hCjfnoA9J
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 19, 2023
Nonetheless, the most of the game was played in their half, and Barcelona ultimately emerged as the rightful winners on the evening, when they appeared to be the finest team in Spain. There are still 12 games left in the La Liga season, but Barcelona appears to be the favourite to win the championship.
As Dani Carvajal’s cross was put in by substitute Marco Asensio with nine minutes left, Real Madrid thought they may have secured a crucial victory. Nevertheless, it was determined following a protracted VAR review that Asensio had initially been in an offside position.
However, Kessie converted a cut-back from Alex Balde in the second minute of stoppage time to erupt the Camp Nou fans into jubilation as Madrid pressed forward in search of the decisive goal they unquestionably needed to keep alive realistic hopes of overturning their opponents’ LaLiga lead.
El Clasico Highlights: Franck Kessie, Sergi Roberto on TARGET, Barcelona CLAIM double over Real Madrid to go 12 POINTS in lead – Check Highlights
A draw would have been sufficient for Barcelona, but with their current 12-point lead, Xavi Hernandez’s team has a chance to win their first championship in four years. Barcelona was hoping to win three straight Clasicos for the first time since the now-Manchester City manager was in charge at Camp Nou during the 2011–12 season, and Pep Guardiola was in attendance.
And they appeared focused on winning from the off. Madrid was rattled in the first few minutes as Barcelona pressed high and with savage energy. Sergi Roberto’s just-over-the-bar shot required Thibaut Courtois to be at the top of his game to stop attempts from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. In the opening 10 minutes of play, there were already more shots on goal than during the previous encounter between the teams, which Barcelona won 1-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinal earlier this month.
El Clasico Highlights: Franck Kessie, Sergi Roberto on TARGET, Barcelona CLAIM double over Real Madrid to go 12 POINTS in lead – Check Highlights
However, it was an own goal that started the scoring, just like in that game. The ball was deflected past Marc-Andre ter Stegen at his near post by Araujo out of very little after Vinicius Junior chipped a cross back from close to the byline down the left. Barcelona’s early momentum was damaged by the goal, which was the first one they had allowed from open play at home in LaLiga this year, while Madrid gained assurance and calmness.
Beginning the second half, the two teams traded chances as Federico Valverde missed a chance for Real Madrid and Lewandowski saw a shot deflected just wide. However, Madrid needed the victory more, so when the clock passed the hour mark, coach Carlo Ancelotti promptly turned to his bench of attacking substitutes, replacing Toni Kroos and Nacho with Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy.
Rodrygo had a fantastic opportunity to put Madrid back in the lead right away. But the young Brazilian missed the crossbar with his attempt after Sergio Busquets gave the ball away to allow a free shot at goal from the edge of the box. Madrid pushed forward as the game entered its last ten minutes in an effort to change the outcome of the title race. Yet, with VAR’s assistance, Barcelona managed to escape before Kessie mercilessly ended Madrid’s chances of keeping their championship.
El Clasico Highlights: Franck Kessie, Sergi Roberto on TARGET, Barcelona CLAIM double over Real Madrid to go 12 POINTS in lead – Check Highlights
Barcelona XI – Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Busquets, De Jong, Roberto; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Gavi.
Real Madrid XI – Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Kroos, Camavinga, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
El Clasico Highlights: Franck Kessie, Sergi Roberto on TARGET, Barcelona CLAIM double over Real Madrid to go 12 POINTS in lead – Check Highlights
Editor's Pick
Top Stories
