As millions of football fans tuned in to watch El Clasico across multiple time zones, Barcelona and Real Madrid did not disappoint, as the Spanish behemoths played out an exciting game. Gerard Pique gave Barcelona the lead from a corner, but Karim Benzema scored a stunning overhead kick to equalize for Madrid in the second half.
Gareth Bale had a goal wrongly disallowed before Sergio Ramos was sent off for a second yellow, but Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 82nd minute to give Real Madrid the win.
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1) Barcelona pay a magnificent tribute to Johan Cruyff
‘Gracies Johan’
Those were the words that were ringing across the Camp Nou as the game began, with Barcelona paying tribute to the recently deceased Johan Cruyff in fitting fashion. An emotional video involving players that played and were managed by the Dutch legend in his time at the club left many of the Nou Camp faithful emotional.
The pre-match tribute was also added to by applause in the 14th minute, Cruyff’s shirt number for Barcelona.
2) Power Brokers Galore
Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two biggest clubs in the world and Jose Maria Bartomeu was joined by Florentino Perez in the cushy seats. Cruyff’s family members were also present as everyone united in applauding Johan Cruyff, despite club rivalries. A fitting tribute to the legend.
3) Is that a penalty or a free kick?
The biggest talking point of the first half was Sergio Ramos’s foul on Lionel Messi. Putting aside the question of whether it occured in the penalty box or outside, Ramos should surely have been given a second yellow after earning a first yellow for his dissent to the referee early in the game.
As it turned out, Ramos eventually did receive a second yellow after riding his luck throughout the game.
4) Luis Enrique’s run comes to an end
Luis Enrique faced up to old foe Zinedine Zidane in an El Clasico yet again, but the Barcelona manager had a rather unhappy memory of his first dalliace with the Frenchman as he witnessed his side lose 2-1 to Real Madrid.
5) Joy and Pain
Gerard Pique has been the bane of many a Madridista over the year, and when the Barcelona centre-back towered over Pepe to give Barcelona the lead from a corner, the Real Madrid stars reacted in a manner just like their adoring fans – utter, utter despair.
It all ended rather well, though.
6) Dani Alves channels his inner John Lennon
Dani Alves is a rather outspoken man, and often times comes up with the most daft of comments. However, the Barcelona man had a rather touching message underneath his shirt for the world to see.
‘Peace in the world, please’ – Amen.
7) Zidane wins his first El Clasico
‘Segunda B coach’
That’s the moniker Zidane was described with by a former Real Madrid president before the game. After masterminding some excellent tactics, including the deployment of Casemiro in midfield coupled with counter-attacking moves, Zidane was masterful in turning the game around to earn his first win in the El Clasico as Real Madrid manager.
You tell em, Zizou.
8) Refereeing the El Clasico is hard
Hernandez Hernandez.
That’s the man who took charge of the El Clasico, and while the man in the middle made a lot of questionable calls, such as not giving Sergio Ramos his marching orders early in the game and ruling out Gareth Bale’s perfectly legitimate goal, it’s hard to get it right when the Barcelona players hound you in addition to the screaming 100,000 fans at the Camp Nou.
9) Benzema redeems himself
Karim Benzema missed a gilt edged-chance in the first half to give Real Madrid the lead, but the Frenchman redeemed himself with a stunning overhead effort to equalize for Real Madrid.
10) Ronaldo the magician
Cristiano Ronaldo was rather quiet for a majority of the game, but the Real Madrid superstar displayed his pedigree with a late winner to inspire his teammates to the win. Cometh the hour, Cometh the man.
