Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
Barcelona won the El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight, thanks to a first-half goal from Ivan Rakitic, which put Ernesto Valverde’s team ten points clear at the top of La Liga.
The visitors came into the game with the upper hand, having swept Los Blancos aside with a 0-3 Copa Del Rey victory last week, and in all honesty, they won this one at a stroll. The SBOBET La Liga 2019 is Barca’s for the taking now, and I really can’t see them loosening their grip.
Highlights of the game
The big team news was the inclusion of Gareth Bale in the Real Madrid attack. The Welshman hasn’t been the most popular figure among the Bernabeu faithful recently, refusing to celebrate the winning goal against Levante last week. He had a chance to get the fans on his side early in the game after Sergio Busquets fouled Toni Kroos within shooting distance. Busquets was booked, but Bale’s free-kick flew over the bar.
Los Blancos had the better of the early chances with Raphael Varane turning and shooting but Clement Lenglet made a fine block; Kroos’ shot on the rebound was straight at Thibaut Courtois.
Messi was irresistible against Sevilla last week, scoring three and making the fourth of Barca’s goals in that victory. We expected the net to bulge when he was put through on goal by Luis Suarez, but his lob over Courtois bounced just wide. But Barcelona went ahead on 26 minutes with their first shot on target when Ivan Rakitic did what Messi couldn’t, getting behind the Real defence and then dinking the ball over Courtois and into the net.
Messi came within inches of making it two with a free-kick from 25 yards but was just too high, and then Suarez took a ball from Busquets that Courtois saved well. And on the stroke of half-time, Luka Modric came close to equalising for Los Blancos but his header was just over the bar.
There was some drama as the players walked off at half-time when Sergio Ramos and Messi had an altercation and Ramos appeared to catch the Barca skipper in the face with his arm. Tempers were running high.
Los Blancos had to find something to avoid a second El Clasico defeat on home soil in four days. Young Vinicius tried to spark something, forcing a good save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen and then having a shot blocked. But it hadn’t gone well for Bale on his return and, he was replaced by Marco Asensio just after the hour.
The game became even tastier when Lenglet exacted some revenge for his skipper, sticking his elbow on Ramos and earning a yellow card for his loyalty. And Barca had a chance to seal the points on 72 minutes when Messi put Ousmane Dembele through, but he pulled his shot just wide of the post.
Asensio was lucky to escape a yellow card when he tried to win a penalty for Los Blancos with a terrible dive. But he did get his just deserts a couple of minutes later when he slid into Busquets, who rolled around as the ref waved a yellow at the Real Madrid sub.
Karim Benzema had a late chance to save a point for Los Blancos but shot straight at Ter Stegen as the Barca fans celebrated.
Key statistics
We backed Valverde’s team to win this 242nd El Clasico in our Real Madrid vs Barcelona betting tips. And while it was only by a single goal margin, the Catalans were in control for much of the game.
In the 242nd El Clasico, Barca have now nudged ahead with 96 wins to Real Madrid’s 95, and they are unbeaten in six with four wins and two draws in the most recent encounters.
But this was Los Blancos’ third home defeat in succession, the first time they’ve had such a poor run at home in 15 years.
What’s next?
Well, after another dramatic night at the Bernabeu the top of La Liga looks pretty good for Barca as they move 12 points clear of Real Madrid and ten ahead of Atletico. The other eye-catching La Liga 2019 results today saw Alaves win at Villarreal, a result which takes them up to fourth, while Sevilla’s decline continues after a shock defeat away to bottom club Huesca.
All our attention now turns to the UEFA Champions League, and Los Blancos are back here at the Bernabeu in midweek for a second-leg tie with Ajax. They should be confident coming into the game with a 2-1 first-leg advantage.
Barca fans will have to wait until the following week to continue their tie with Lyon, having played out a goalless draw in France. But before then, the Catalans have a great chance to continue their march to another title with a game against relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
