Xavi Hernandez’s FC Barcelona had plenty of enjoyable in opposition to a Karim Benzema-less Actual Madrid, climb to 3rd in La Liga desk
Xavi Hernandez’s FC Barcelona had plenty of enjoyable in opposition to a Karim Benzema-less Actual Madrid, climb to 3rd in La Liga desk
Barcelona’s dropping run in opposition to Actual Madrid lastly ended Sunday because the Catalan membership loved a shocking 4-0 win on the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and confirmed its title hopes within the Spanish league will not be over but.
Barcelona saved its current momentum going beneath coach Xavi Hernández within the final “clásico” of the season. The win ended Barcelona’s five-match dropping streak to its rival and maintained an outdoor probability of preventing for the title after a troublesome begin to its first season with out Lionel Messi.
The victory was its first in opposition to Madrid since 2019 and got here in model — like a number of others Barcelona loved with Messi in his prime.
It was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who thrived this time, scoring twice to proceed his nice streak since being signed within the ultimate minutes of the winter switch window. Ronald Araujo and Ferran Torres added a objective every to offer Barcelona its seventh win within the final eight matches in all competitions.
“In fact we didn’t anticipate this scoreline, however we did all the pieces we supposed to do from the beginning,” Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets stated. “Every part went our approach and we might have scored much more targets.”
The consequence moved Barcelona inside 12 factors of league chief Madrid with 9 rounds to go, and it might additional lower the hole to 9 factors if it wins its recreation in hand in opposition to Rayo Vallecano.
“If we’ve a minimal probability, we’ll preserve preventing,” Busquets stated. “We all know it’s going to be onerous, however in soccer something can occur.”
Barcelona is stage on factors with fourth-place Atlético Madrid and is three factors behind second-place Sevilla, which was held 0-0 at house in opposition to Actual Sociedad earlier Sunday for its third straight draw within the league.
Madrid, which badly missed the injured Karim Benzema, was unbeaten in its final eight video games within the league, with six wins. It had overwhelmed its Catalan rival 2-1 at Camp Nou of their first league recreation final 12 months.
“The consequence says all of it,” Madrid defender Nacho Fernández stated. “We performed badly they usually performed effectively. Nothing labored for us. It was our first unhealthy match this season. Possibly we had been too relaxed due to our benefit within the standings.”
It was Madrid’s first house loss in 24 league video games, since dropping to Levante in January 2021.
Barcelona has been revitalized by Xavi and its assault has been purple sizzling, outscoring opponents 24-5 in its final eight matches, with Aubameyang and Torres combining for 15 targets since arriving on the membership this 12 months.
Aubameyang has now scored 9 targets in his 11 appearances since arriving from Arsenal.
He opened the scoring with a close-range header after a cross by Ousmane Dembélé within the twenty ninth minute, and sealed the victory with a pleasant flick over goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a breakaway within the 51st.
Araujo had added to the lead with a header off a nook kick within the thirty eighth earlier than Torres scored the third within the forty seventh after a intelligent flick-pass by Aubameyang because the Madrid protection collapsed but once more.
Barcelona had a number of different important scoring alternatives all through the match, with Aubameyang, Torres and Dembélé amongst these lacking good possibilities.
Benzema, the league’s prime scorer with 22 targets, couldn’t play due to a left-leg harm sustained within the league match in opposition to Mallorca, when he scored for the eighth time in 5 video games in all competitions. The French striker had netted a hat trick in Madrid’s thrilling comeback win in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain final week within the Champions League on the Bernabéu.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti didn’t substitute Benzema with one other striker, as an alternative utilizing Luka Modric in a false-nine place on the prime of the attacking line together with Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. Madrid barely threatened, although, and Ancelotti needed to change techniques within the second half by placing Mariano Díaz up entrance, which additionally didn’t assist a lot.
Barcelona has additionally secured a spot within the quarterfinals of the Europa League. It hosts Sevilla within the league after the worldwide break, whereas Madrid visits mid-table Celta Vigo.
OTHER RESULTS
Fifth-place Actual Betis missed an opportunity to realize some floor after being held to a 0-0 draw at Celta. Guide Pellegrini’s staff stayed 4 factors behind Barcelona and Atlético, and two factors forward of Actual Sociedad in a decent struggle for the Champions League locations.
Villarreal stayed three factors behind Betis after a 1-0 loss at Cádiz, which is simply exterior the relegation zone. Mallorca stayed some extent behind Cádiz after dropping 1-0 at Espanyol for its sixth consecutive defeat.
