La Liga - Barca trounce Real in 'Clasico' classic

Eurosport - Sun, 03 May 09:16:00 2009

Barcelona took a major step towards securing La Liga after beating Real Madrid 6-2 in an astonishing edition of the fixture known as 'El Clasico' at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Thierry Henry celebrates scoring for Barcelona against Real Madrid. Lionel Messi is on his back. - 0

Barca are now seven points clear of defending champions Real with four games of the season remaining after braces from Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi plus goals from Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique rendered strikes for Real from Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Ramos irrelevant.

The statistics of Barca's season are astounding: Pique's goal - Barca's sixth - was their 100th in La Liga this season, and between them Samuel Eto'o, Messi and Henry have scored more goals than the entire squads of any side - excluding only Real - in England, Italy, Germany or Spain.

The reverse fixture back in December - a 2-0 Barcelona victory at the Nou Camp - was Juande Ramos's first match in charge of Real Madrid, and following that match they embarked on an incredible run of 17 wins and one draw from 18 games.

Real took the lead after a high-tempo first quarter of an hour when Sergio Ramos curled his cross around Eric Abidal to Gonzalo Higuain, who was left completely unmarked by Carles Puyol in the centre of the penalty area, to head in his 19th league goal of the season.

That lead lasted only a few minutes until Messi found Henry and the Frenchman tucked a neat side-footed finish into the net to make it 1-1.

Puyol made amends for his earlier mistake and turned the game on its head just two minutes later. Fabio Cannavaro had desperately hauled down Henry on the left wing near the byline, and Xavi's free-kick was met by a firm header from the Barca captain to give his side the lead. Ironically, it was Higuain who should have been on hand to stop Puyol from that set piece.

Lassana Diarra was caught dithering in possession, and Xavi robbed him before setting up Messi, who clipped the ball past Iker Casillas with the outside of his boot to send Barca 3-1 up at half-time.

After the break, Real looked as though they could have mounted one of their trademark fight backs when Arjen Robben's free-kick was headed in by Sergio Ramos, but the Spain right-back undid his good work two minutes later when he was too late in springing the offside trap on Henry, who went on to knock the ball past Casillas and see it roll into the empty net and make it restore the two-goal gap.

Henry, a doubt before the match, was substituted soon afterwards, and is not certain to be fit to face Chelsea in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg.

With 15 minutes left Messi got his second of the night and 23rd league goal of the season when he beat Casillas from close range before former Manchester United centre-back Pique capped an impressive display at the back with his first goal in La Liga from inside the six-yard box.

Villarreal 0-2 Sevilla

Sevilla tightened their grip on third place in the table with a 2-0 win over fifth-placed Villarreal at El Madrgial.

Luis Fabiano opened the scoring in the second half after strike partner Fredi Kanoute find him with a through ball, and the Brazilian slotted coolly underneath goalkeeper Diego Lopez to give the visitors the lead.

Despite going down to 10 men when right-back Abdoulaye Konko was sent off for a second bookable offence, Sevilla doubled their lead when Kanoute got a goal of his own with a clinical drilled shot from distance that went in off the far post.

The result leaves Manolo Jimenez's side four points above fourth-placed Valencia, who travel to Espanyol on Sunday. Villarreal could drop down to sixth if Atletico Madrid win their match at Athletic Bilbao.

Numancia 2-0 Malaga

Numanica moved off the bottom of the table with a home win over Europa League hopefuls Malaga.

Midfielder Juan Carlos Moreno struck in first minute for the struggling side, who now move above Recreativo Huelva into 19th place.

Striker Javier del Pino doubled the home side's lead in second-half to help deny Malaga a point that would have seen them at least temporarily leapfrog Atletico Madrid into fifth.

Malaga could drop as low as eighth by the end of the weekend if Deportivo la Coruna win at home against Valladolid tomorrow, while Recre could move back off the bottom of the league with a victory at Osasuna.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 143 - 162 of 182

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  1. now, thats football!

    From gorka, on Sun 3 May 6:11PM

  2. Barca is a football exhibitor..! attractive n­­ effective..! for once dear chelski fans, let it loose n­ just enjoy the show.. something extra that chelsea­ couldn't produce..!

    From carlamms, on Sun 3 May 6:08PM

  3. ya..! next time is for chelski..! hope they park two­ bus this time round..! good luck to ya..!

    From carlamms, on Sun 3 May 5:29PM

  4. what..?! 6-2..? is this for real..?

    From gorka, on Sun 3 May 5:23PM

  5. getachew i have to admit it, even though i usually rate­ ur comments down, ur comments here make so much sense­ and i support u fully

    From Varnavas P, on Sun 3 May 5:12PM

  6. responding to comment 153.Who says the EL is the best­ in world? yet all best players wish to play but in­ spain even Christiano Ronaldo. England can best play­ rugby not football. That is why they are no way to be­ found in Europe. If you want shampain football, come to­ spain my friend.Make sure you post a comment on­ wednesday.All madrid and Chelsea fans are nolonger­ posting comments since last night. Why think on­ scorring one and then defending? Barca has scored­ somany goals this season.Eto, henry and messi have all­ scored a total of over 70goals this season which are­ morethan the goalsany single club in england has scored­ this season.barca is the best at the moment. you have­ to accept and pray very hard to aviod a humilation from­ Barca on wednesday.Barca, YOU ARE THE BEST

    From gclarice68, on Sun 3 May 3:56PM

  7. in the last 18 years of champions league spanish teams­ won 5 times italians 4 times english 3 times
    1991­ barca
    1994 ac milan
    1997 juventus
    1998 r madrid
    1999­ man u
    2000 r madrid
    2002 r madrid
    2003 ac milan
    2005­ l.pool
    2006 barca
    2007 ac milan
    2008 man u
    i think now­ u know la liga is far better than EPL & to london­ teams especialy chelsea & arsenal fans, don't­ talk to much about champions league.
    u gays, u­ don't know the feeling of winning CL so don't­ talk about things u don't know

    From getachew44, on Sun 3 May 2:32PM

  8. in the last 18 years of champions league spanish teams­ won 5 times italians 4 times english 3 times
    1991­ barca
    1994 ac milan
    1997 juventus
    1998 r madrid
    1999­ man u
    2000 r madrid
    2002 r madrid
    2003 ac milan
    2005­ l.pool
    2006 barca
    2007 ac milan
    2008 man u
    i think now­ u know la liga is far better than EPL & to london­ teams especialy chelsea & arsenal fans, don't­ talk to much about champions league.
    u gays, u­ don't know the feeling of winning CL so don't­ talk about things u don't know

    From getachew44, on Sun 3 May 2:31PM

  9. in the last 18 years of champions league spanish teams­ won 5 times italians 4 times english 3 times
    1991­ barca
    1994 ac milan
    1997 juventus
    1998 r madrid
    1999­ man u
    2000 r madrid
    2002 r madrid
    2003 ac milan
    2005­ l.pool
    2006 barca
    2007 ac milan
    2008 man u
    i think now­ u know la liga is far better than EPL & to london­ teams especialy chelsea & arsenal fans, don't­ talk to much about champions league.
    u gays, u­ don't know the feeling of winning CL so don't­ talk about things u don't know

    From getachew44, on Sun 3 May 2:29PM

  10. in the last 18 years of champions league spanish teams­ won 5 times italians 4 times english 3 times
    1991­ barca
    1994 ac milan
    1997 juventus
    1998 r madrid
    1999­ man u
    2000 r madrid
    2002 r madrid
    2003 ac milan
    2005­ l.pool
    2006 barca
    2007 ac milan
    2008 man u
    i think now­ u know la liga is far better than EPL & to london­ teams especialy chelsea & arsenal fans, don't­ talk to much about champions league.
    u gays, u­ don't know the feeling of winning CL so don't­ talk about things u don't know

    From getachew44, on Sun 3 May 2:29PM

  11. in the last 18 years of champions league spanish teams­ won 5 times italians 4 times english 3 times
    1991­ barca
    1994 ac milan
    1997 juventus
    1998 r madrid
    1999­ man u
    2000 r madrid
    2002 r madrid
    2003 ac milan
    2005­ l.pool
    2006 barca
    2007 ac milan
    2008 man u
    i think now­ u know la liga is far better than EPL & to london­ teams especialy chelsea & arsenal fans, don't­ talk to much about champions league.
    u gays, u­ don't know the feeling of winning CL so don't­ talk about things u don't know

    From getachew44, on Sun 3 May 2:28PM

  12. i'm madrid fan but truth have to be said barca r­ the best this season
    for those who say bayern is not­ strong at least bayern have won 4 cl the last in 2001­ more than the 3 english teams in sime final arsenal­ chelsea & man u
    in my opinion if bayern didn't­ face barca in 1/4 there would be barca vs bayern in­ final

    From getachew44, on Sun 3 May 1:39PM

  13. Chelsea will let barca know they r not unstoppable!

    From chelsea_nkl, on Sun 3 May 1:35PM

  14. I bet Chelsea are feeling the blues and shaking in­ their boots after watching Barça dismantle Madrid .­ Same fate awaits Chelsea wednesday !!

    From Tim, on Sun 3 May 1:09PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Just goes to show that La Liga is a second-rate league­ to the premiership now, that your best team Barca­ cannot even score at home to our current third=placed­ side Chelsea!...Barca, Big Fish in a Little Pond.
    The­ CL is English agauin this year, Barca will taste defeat­ at Stamford Bridge.

    From Koppite 1973, on Sun 3 May 12:47PM

  16. Barca beat Real alright! What happened v/s Chelsea???­ Chelsea will crush them at the bridge. Barca plays­ echnical football, when u put a powerful team in front­ of them , they struggle. bayern or lyon cant be called­ opposition. take the england big four n barca will lose­ admirably. they struggled to beat arsenal in the final­ last time they played n had to beat them when they were­ one man down. liverpool beat them last time. barca am­ afraid with these kids wnt go anywhere. chelsea has­ their measure. anyways lfc beat real. afc beat­ villareal. fed up listening these undeserving praise­ for a team that doesnt merit it. grow up guys. MAN U­ will win the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. La liga is boring.

    From Sharma, on Sun 3 May 12:23PM

  17. Here comes the Barca die hards.In my opinion the season­ is over for la liga.This team is ontop of the­ world.Honestly who can match them? Chelsea? no no­ no.... May be when luck lies on their side

    From Felix, on Sun 3 May 12:10PM

  18. Cech to Drogba, Drogba to cech.. You Call ThAT­ FOOTbALL..(Question).

    From TITUS N, on Sun 3 May 12:00PM

  19. Oops i seem to forget chelsea couldnt even see the ball­ (30% possession) shameful.. They Simply packed the team­ bus infront of the goal. That night, Chelsea took­ football 100 years back.

    From TITUS N, on Sun 3 May 11:59AM

  20. 'cos they all didn't have a prayer against­ Barca. LOL.. those who say English league is better, If­ you were so better, why was chelsea shaking in their­ boots when they visited Barca? Why didnt they express­ themselves?

    From TITUS N, on Sun 3 May 11:57AM
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