📰 Table Of Contents
Match report
The latest edition of Spanish football’s most historic fixture played to completion a short time ago.
And, when all was said and done at the Camp Nou, it was Barcelona who emerged with the spoils, to place one hand upon the La Liga title.
Visitors Real Madrid actually took the lead on the night, inside the opening ten minutes of play.
This came upon Vinicius Jr’s delivery across the face of goal being turned into his own net by the altogether unfortunate Ronald Araujo:
An own goal from Araujo gives Real Madrid the lead! 👀 pic.twitter.com/YptEkZmLa7
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 19, 2023
On the stroke of the interval, though, Barcelona hit back, in decisive fashion.
After an initial effort inside the visitors’ penalty area was well blocked, the ball found its way to the awaiting Sergi Roberto, who made no mistake in slotting inside Thibaut Courtois’ right-hand post:
SERGI ROBERTO TIES IT FOR BARCELONA! GAME ON! pic.twitter.com/ibxPbMDmXU
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 19, 2023
In turn, what looked set to prove a late Marco Asensio finish being ruled out by VAR, based on the balance of play, only seemed just.
And this set the stage for the most spectacular of endings in Catalunya’s capital.
This came as Franck Kessie emerged from the bench, to net a last-gasp Barcelona winner.
Surging into the Real penalty area deep into injury-time, Kessie was picked out by Alejandro Balde, before rolling home a confident finish to ensure that all three points remained at the Camp Nou.
KESSIE 90TH MINUTE GOAL!
WOW WHAT A MATCH! pic.twitter.com/9L3IXUzT4J
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 19, 2023
Xavi Hernandez and co, in turn, put one hand firmly on the La Liga title, now sitting a full 12 points clear of their Clasico rivals at the division’s summit, with 12 games to play.
Player ratings
Barcelona
Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6
Ronald Araujo – 6
Jules Kounde – 7
Andreas Christensen – 6.5
Alejandro Balde – 6.5
Sergi Roberto – 7.5
Sergio Busquets – 7
Frenkie De Jong – 8.5
Raphinha – 6.5
Robert Lewandowski – 5.5
Gavi – 6.5
Substitutes: Franck Kessie – 7, Ferran Torres – N/A, Ansu Fati – N/A
Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois – 6.5
Dani Carvajal – 6
Eder Militao – 6
Antonio Rudiger – 5
Nacho – 5.5
Eduardo Camavinga – 6
Luka Modric – 5
Toni Kroos – 5.5
Federico Valverde – 6
Vinicius Jr. – 5.5
Karim Benzema – 5.5
Substitutes: Rodrygo – 5.5, Ferland Mendy – 5, Aurelien Tchouameni – 5, Marco Asensio – 6, Dani Ceballos – 6
Fan reaction
“Araujo is going to own Vinicius “
Vinicius just gave him an own goal 😂 pic.twitter.com/8AxvXx5NhM
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) March 19, 2023
FAIR PLAY 🤝
Vini went to comfort Ronald Araújo after his own goal 🫂 pic.twitter.com/XIk0iQSYTE
— 433 (@433) March 19, 2023
Of course we concede in the most unfortunate way from a nothing chance after a great great start. Fuck off.
— Imdad (@Imdu_) March 19, 2023
Wondering who’s winning the Vinicius Jr and Araujo battle at the moment! Very fascinating to watch two world-class players go at it as they are at the moment.
— Blaugranagram (@Blaugranagram) March 19, 2023
What attacking formation is this?!? pic.twitter.com/LfgmzbWymS
— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) March 19, 2023
“Can Lewandowski finally show up in a big game” pic.twitter.com/7QM5rkHl8o
— Rimedi (@r1medi) March 19, 2023
Sergi Roberto just has this knack of scoring crucial big goals for Barcelona. He’s one of their most important players and I feel a very underrated player. His late runs into the box are a real key aspect of his game. 31 but I don’t feel his career has received enough credit.
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) March 19, 2023
Lewandowski needs to up his game, we need him for that winning goal. 💪🏾#ElClasico
— Ibukun Aluko (@IbkSports) March 19, 2023
Fede?!?! 😂😂😂https://t.co/OUzHEhXQ4d
— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) March 19, 2023
Raphinha gets unfairly criticized despite trying harder and being more useful than a certain someone
— Barça Pictures #14 (@Barca__pictures) March 19, 2023
Militao did lewandowski dirty 😁 pic.twitter.com/hHq2Oj8YP8
— Yato (@yat0w) March 19, 2023
Benzema?!?!? what a gift from Kounde pic.twitter.com/sxVSamnkez
— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) March 19, 2023
Kessie!!! Deserved lead, Barca were the better team! pic.twitter.com/fSo9mLH0W1
— Jan (@FutbolJan10) March 19, 2023
We can’t defend or attack tbh I’m tired of this Ancelotti ball it only shows up in UCL games and we lost to Barca 3 times in a row 💀 pic.twitter.com/cDA2W2rXxw
— LEVI 🧊 (@LEVI00017) March 19, 2023
Sergi Roberto and Franck Kessie ‘winning’ the league for Barcelona. You had to be there 😅 pic.twitter.com/5L4CSO6xdY
— Pol Ballús (@polballus) March 19, 2023
Why the obsession with playing Benzema every second that he’s able to walk. Camavinga was one of the bright spots again, he should’ve been allowed to see the game out until the end. Rodrygo played with purpose off the bench. Deserves more. Starting XI shouldn’t be so unshakeable.
— Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) March 19, 2023
Frenkie de Jong, tonight… absolutely imperious. He was everything and everywhere. The first receiver, the progressor, the retainer, the creator – just a monstrous performance!
— Neal 🇦🇺 (@NealGardner_) March 19, 2023
Schedule us to play all 38 La Liga games with Real Madrid under Xavi and we’ll win the league with 114 points.
— Bob ひ (@thearmah_) March 19, 2023
Best stats
4 – FC Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto has scored four goals in 17 appearances in LaLiga 2022/23, as many as in his previous four seasons in the competition combined (four goals in 83 matches). Streak. pic.twitter.com/J8H8X65XzF
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 19, 2023
Xavi becomes the first manager to achieve a remontada win in La Liga vs Madrid at the Camp Nou since Johan Cruyff 33 years ago. pic.twitter.com/QQ061Uyzp5
— adil (@Barca19stats) March 19, 2023
91:02 – At 91m 2s, Franck Kessié’s winner was the lastest winning goal scored for FC Barcelona in #ElClasico in LaLiga since Lionel Messi (91:48) in April 2017 (3-2 at Santiago Bernabéu). Dessert. pic.twitter.com/Kg55Zsws9E
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 19, 2023
Gavi’s game by numbers vs. Real Madrid:
◉ Most duels won (9)
◉ Most fouls committed (4)
◉ Most fouls won (4)And no other player completed more take-ons (3). 🩻🐶 pic.twitter.com/xC6hdco9Va
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 19, 2023
🔎 | FOCUS
Frenkie de Jong v Real Madrid:
👌 100 touches (most)
🔑 5 key passes (most)
👟 77/82 accurate passes
💨 3/3 successful dribbles
⚔️ 8/9 duels won
🦵 3 tackles
🧲 2 interceptions
🚷 0 times dribbled past
📈 8.2 Sofascore ratingOur #ElClasico Player of the Match! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/60Ywcc4rCY
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) March 19, 2023
FT: Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid
◉ Barça remain unbeaten at home in LaLiga this season
◉ Barça go 12 points clear
Franck Kessié wins El Clásico with his first league goal for the club. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ugZn1VAAU0
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 19, 2023
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