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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Luis Suárez’s sweet strike drives Barcelona past Real Madrid | Luis Suárez’s sweet strike drives Barcelona past Real Madrid |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Barcelona and Real Madrid have traded places; they may also have traded roles. Four points ahead eight games ago, Madrid are now four points behind after Barcelona beat them in a chaotic, open game in which it was the Catalans who scored with a header from a corner and a goal born of a long ball. Jérémy Mathieu and Luis Suárez got them, the second beautifully taken, but as Barcelona overran their opponents in the final minutes Neymar, Suárez and Lionel Messi were unable to add a third goal that would have also wiped out Madrid’s head-to-head advantage that will decide the title should they finish level. “That was the only pity,” Luis Enrique admitted. | |
| It nearly came. By the final minutes, Madrid were exhausted and Barcelona were on top, Messi running at opponents, skipping away from challenges, Jordi Alba speeding up the left, Neymar getting chances. Yet the last impression was not the lasting one. This had been far from easy. | It nearly came. By the final minutes, Madrid were exhausted and Barcelona were on top, Messi running at opponents, skipping away from challenges, Jordi Alba speeding up the left, Neymar getting chances. Yet the last impression was not the lasting one. This had been far from easy. |
| Madrid had hit the bar, Claudio Bravo made key saves and for much of the night Barcelona were grateful to Gerard Piqué for resisting. It had been Madrid, unusually, who had been defined by pressure and possession while Barcelona turned to the counterattack. | |
| Barcelona had the lead early via a foul by Pepe on Suárez, a glimpse of a battle that was building. Messi curled in the free-kick and Mathieu headed in. It was Messi’s 22nd assist of the season but it was also proof that things are not always as they seem: this was the ninth header that Madrid have conceded in the league this season. Barcelona have conceded only one. | Barcelona had the lead early via a foul by Pepe on Suárez, a glimpse of a battle that was building. Messi curled in the free-kick and Mathieu headed in. It was Messi’s 22nd assist of the season but it was also proof that things are not always as they seem: this was the ninth header that Madrid have conceded in the league this season. Barcelona have conceded only one. |
| The lead was far from secure, though. Cristiano Ronaldo had already hit the bar with a volley at the far post, Isco’s shot had skidded wide and then Ronaldo had leapt to head over. All in a minute. They took another step forward, pressing with growing insistence. | The lead was far from secure, though. Cristiano Ronaldo had already hit the bar with a volley at the far post, Isco’s shot had skidded wide and then Ronaldo had leapt to head over. All in a minute. They took another step forward, pressing with growing insistence. |
| Luka Modric, starting for the first time in four months, gave Madrid clarity; Marcelo, theoretically guarding Messi on the right, found space into which to progress and the front three were increasingly involved, Karim Benzema particularly. | Luka Modric, starting for the first time in four months, gave Madrid clarity; Marcelo, theoretically guarding Messi on the right, found space into which to progress and the front three were increasingly involved, Karim Benzema particularly. |
| The equaliser came moments after Neymar had wasted a wonderful chance to make it 2-0 but was not undeserved. Modric’s neat pass found Benzema who provided a gorgeous assist, back-heeling first time to Ronaldo who steered the ball beyond Bravo. | |
| Barcelona’s weakness was revealed and Madrid honed in on it. Piqué held his side together, racing to put out fires. Bale slid in the second goal but was pulled back because Ronaldo was offside when he flicked the ball on. Bale then shot wide from just outside the six-yard box before Ronaldo was stopped by Bravo. | Barcelona’s weakness was revealed and Madrid honed in on it. Piqué held his side together, racing to put out fires. Bale slid in the second goal but was pulled back because Ronaldo was offside when he flicked the ball on. Bale then shot wide from just outside the six-yard box before Ronaldo was stopped by Bravo. |
| If the half-time whistle was welcome Bravo had to intervene two minutes into the second period, this time denying Benzema. There was something eloquent in the wild, nervous way that Mathieu hacked the loose ball away. | |
| In possession Madrid had found unexpected space and time. Unable to gain control, Barcelona turned more direct. It worked too: Dani Alves’s long pass found Suárez, running in behind Pepe. The first touch to control the ball as it hit the turf was sublime and the finish was assured, guided low into the far corner beyond Iker Casillas. | In possession Madrid had found unexpected space and time. Unable to gain control, Barcelona turned more direct. It worked too: Dani Alves’s long pass found Suárez, running in behind Pepe. The first touch to control the ball as it hit the turf was sublime and the finish was assured, guided low into the far corner beyond Iker Casillas. |
| Tackles flew, players tumbled, yellow cards were waved and more chances came. Madrid lost control and in the chaos Barcelona appeared happier, running into the space. | Tackles flew, players tumbled, yellow cards were waved and more chances came. Madrid lost control and in the chaos Barcelona appeared happier, running into the space. |
| Neymar dribbled through the middle, evading tackles until he reached the edge of the area where a brilliant run should have concluded with him dropping the ball off to Suárez. Instead, he sliced a wild shot over. | Neymar dribbled through the middle, evading tackles until he reached the edge of the area where a brilliant run should have concluded with him dropping the ball off to Suárez. Instead, he sliced a wild shot over. |
| Next Messi produced the classic Messi run, only that it did not end with the ball in the net but curling wide, and a minute later he was running at Madrid again, the midfield no longer so populated. This time, he laid off the ball to Neymar. Again, the shot was sliced, flying wide at the near post. | Next Messi produced the classic Messi run, only that it did not end with the ball in the net but curling wide, and a minute later he was running at Madrid again, the midfield no longer so populated. This time, he laid off the ball to Neymar. Again, the shot was sliced, flying wide at the near post. |
| Neymar then found Messi but as he came inside and the Camp Nou held its breath, his close-range shot was blocked. | |
| The misses meant this was still not over and Bravo produced a sharp save to push away Benzema’s deflected shot; but it was Barcelona dominating now. Xavi and Sergio Busquets came on: control was the aim, but the game did not truly slow. | |
| Suárez pulled one shot wide and then Jordi Alba accelerated and exchanged passes with Messi, the speed breathtaking as he burst into the area. Casillas saved then and saved again when the same pair combined a minute later. Barcelona sought the third at one end, the risk being that they might lose their lead at the other, so the nerves continued. | |
| Until eventually the whistle went, met with a huge roar. | Until eventually the whistle went, met with a huge roar. |