Barcelona beat their arch rivals Real Madrid 2-1 in what is soccer’s biggest rivalry. This match up is always fun to watch. You have the two best players in the world facing off against each with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. With Neymar signing with Barcelona, Madrid countered that with a huge signing with Gareth Bale. These match ups between the players and the two teams set up for the most exciting and controversial ninety minutes in football.
Neymar was the first to make some noise in the game with a goal in nineteenth minute. Iniesta assisted Neymar whose shot took a small deflection to help it go into the back of the net. Neymar had a better performance in his first El Classico compared to the other first time participant in Bale. Bale lacked the ability to get anything going. He wasn’t creating any pressure with no shots on goal. His ability to create space was taken away by Barcelona’s defense. Bale was taken out of the game in the sixty first minute. Bale has been plagued by injuries all season, but he needed to step up in this game. Neymar made his presence felt. He took great shots on target and opened up the field with his skillful touches.
Ronaldo was furious in this game. His best shot was saved by Victor Valdes. Ronaldo was taken down in the box in what looked to be called for a penalty, but the ref let play go on. Ronaldo was heated because he was clearly fouled. Then minutes after the no call, Pedro had an amazing chip goal from outside the 18 yard box in the seventy eighth minute. Cristiano started throwing a tirade after this goal. Jese Rodriguez grabbed a goal in the winding minutes. It didn’t matter as the whistle was blown.
This win gave Barcelona a little breathing room from Real Madrid, but the surprise of the season Atletico Madrid stays right behind Barcelona by one point. Real has been playing very well this season, but if you want to compete for the league title, you need to gain points on the top teams. Real Madrid has now lost the two games they have played against the two teams above them in the standings. El Classico always sets up for a dramatic event, and this one did not fail.