World of Sport Reporter: @worldofsport
Barcelona hammered Real Madrid 3-0 at the Bernabeu, and in doing so moved 14 points clear of their hated rivals.
Luis Suarez opened the scoring with a sweet finish from Sergi Roberto's low cross shortly after half-time. Lionel Messi doubled Barcelona's lead from the penalty spot after Dani Carvajal had been shown a straight red card for handling Paulinho's header.
Barcelona dominated the game and substitute Aleix Vidal grabbed a late third when his low shot squeezed through the arms of Keylor Navas in injury time.
It was a torrid afternoon for the reigning champions, whose La Liga title hopes now look all but gone. Barcelona, meanwhile, are celebrating a third consecutive league win at the Bernabeu for the first time in their history.
Real Madrid played quite well in the first half and should have scored a couple. Ronaldo had the first chance to open the scoring. The Portuguese superstar was in space in the area, but he failed to make a connection as the ball rolled between his feet.
Paulinho almost scored for Barca not long after, but he was thwarted by the acrobatic Navas. Madrid were back on the attack soon after that, with Barcelona keeper ter Stegen saved with his feet from Ronaldo, then Karim Benzema glanced a header against the outside of the post.
Lionel Messi had a quiet first half, but the Argentine began to exert his influence in the second half and Barcelona got the breakthrough not long after the break.
Ivan Rakitic dribbled the ball through a huge gap in the Real midfield. He fed Sergi Roberto, whose first time cross was met by Suarez and the Uruguayan finished at the far post.
The goal sparked Barcelona, and it wasn’t long before they were two up. Dani Caravajal was shown the red card for handling the a goal-bound shot and the referee sent the Spaniard to an early bath and pointed straight at the spot. Lionel Messi made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Gareth Bale, who came on as a sub almost pulled on back for the home side, but it just wasn’t to be Real Madrid’s day. Substitute Aleix Vidal rub salt into Real’s wounds as he scored the third just two minutes after coming on. Lionel Messi cut the ball back for Vidal who slotted the ball home to give Barcelona a massive win.
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What do you buy the golfer who has everything? A short game!
I dream to visit Spain and of course to visit Barcelona. But most of all I would like to attend such a grandiose event as the football match Barcelona - Real Madrid.
It would be a great experience
Great performance by Barcelona. Good to see them beat the governments team.
Barcelona are the best team in Spain and probably the world. It will be great to see them play Man City to see who is the best.
They are unstoppable
Sure
Yes they make it again
They do
Well, it was an interesting game... I actually tipped Barcelona to win but didn't anticipate such a large margin.... I look forward to Barcelona playing PSG or Manchester City... It will be a joy to watch... Nice post
Same same
Great job by Barca, lets see how far they could go. Nice post. I follow and upvote
Thanks, mate.
How can you not love Barcelona?
Their football is just amazing and a lust for the eyes. Been their fan since I remember my self.
Iniesta and Messi are geniuses! their game wisdom can't be beaten. I'm not surprised that Barcelona has beaten Real Madrid and I'm 100% sure Barcelona will take the league this year.
Well said
Yes all ready done
What a great contribution you have here. I can not hide my sadness to see how after a great first half of Real Madrid, Barcelona took over the game in the second half. I think they did not come out with the same desire for the first part and that against a rival like the Barca can not be done, but this hardly starts and we will surely have the rematch. I agree that before the English team things will become more than interesting. Regards!
Thanks
Super win
They played very well.
And imagine they have done this with Messi literally walking on the pitch :)
Your post is so good and standard. I am just upvote your post plz upvote my poste @hrishikesh
Real Madrid is not as good as in last season.
Although Barcelona is showing some great fotball again and would imagine them getting to UCL final Vs Man City or PSG.