5 hours ago
1
Alonso wins 1st Clasico
©IMAGO
El Clásico is the most hotly-anticipated club clash in world football, and Real Madrid and Barcelona certainly understood their assignment in delivering drama and quality in equal measure. But while fans at the Santiago Bernabeu witnessed one of the most memorable clashes in recent memory, VAR played the role of the villain as both teams walked off feeling hard done by. There were several narratives that led the preamble - Xabi Alonso's men would go five points clear if he won his first Clasico in charge, while Hansi Flick was looking to become the first Barcelona manager since Pep Guardiola (2008-10) to win five successive Clásicos in all competitions. Unfortunately for the German, his side were second-best on Sunday, as Madrid finally ended their four-game losing run with a 2-1 victory and Kylian Mbappé celebrated a new personal milestone.
Referee César Soto Grado was a busy man from the first minute. It started with the Spanish official awarding a penalty after Lamine Yamal stuck in his foot in to a challenge with Vinicius Junior inside the box. It looked a clear penalty, but the referee adjudged that the 18-year-old got a touch on the ball, despite replays appearing to be inconclusive, and overturned his decision with guidance from VAR. Mbappé then gave the hosts the lead with a sublime volleyed finish, only for VAR to intervene again - this time correctly - due to a tight offside call. But at the third time of asking, Mbappé would not be denied to score his 32nd goal in all competitions for club and country in just his 27th game. It was also the seventh league game in a row that he has scored in LaLiga - equalling the best domestic scoring run of his career which he also achieved with PSG during the 2018/19 season. He also became only the third player after Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho to score in four successive Clásicos.
Fermín López brought Barcelona level - the 208th goal the Blaugrana have scored since Flick was appointed - with an incisive finish from inside the box. It followed the 22-year-old's excellent hat-trick in the 6-1 rout of Olympiacos in the Champions League in midweek, underlining his incredible rise under Flick. But Real threatened every time they surged forward and punished Barca for lacklustre defending. Vinicius Junior floated a cross to the far post, Éder Militão headed it back across goal and Jude Bellingham had the easiest finish of his career to restore the lead at 2-1. Mbappe did put the ball in the net again but the Frenchman was clearly offside when following up from Bellingham's saved effort.
The referee was told to look at the monitor again for a penalty shout after Eric García was adjudged to have handled inside the area. It was an innocuous handball, though, and controversy ensued when the referee pointed to the spot - this time in favour of Real Madrid. Mbappé stepped up, only to see his spot-kick saved by Wojciech Szczesny to keep the scores at 2-1, but Barca would've felt like it was poetic justice. The basketball feel to the game continued long into the second half with both sides going close, with Mbappe and Bellingham both having goals ruled out correctly this time.
Just to add to the drama, Vinicius Junior stormed down the tunnel after being substituted by Alonso, while Pedri sent off for a second yellow card - sparking a mass brawl. With a five-point gap at the top, Alonso knows they can go to Barcelona and lose, and still have the title in their hands - but with 29 games remaining, there is a still a long way to go until title ambitions become clear.
