Last weekend’s El Clasico was a tempestuous affair.
Everything was displayed in full colour for the millions of fans that tuned in to watch. The best players in the world conducting endless waves of attacking football, fine goalkeeping, simulation and of course, clinical finishing.
Pick of the three goals scored that night, has to be Luis Suarez’s winner. The Uruguayan has struggled for form since his £75million switch from Liverpool last summer, but has been blending in nicely at the Camp Nou recently. His sterling brace against Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 is a testament to changing fortunes.
Against Real Madrid – who were reportedly keen on signing him too – Suarez controlled a long expertly and produced a finish of the highest quality past Iker Casillas.
Advantage Barcelona.
Luis Enrique’s men remain on top of La Liga, four points ahead of Madrid and on course to finish there in May.
Last season, they lost the league in dramatic fashion.
Their last match of the season was at home at Atletico Madrid. It was the game that would ultimately decide who wins the Spanish title for the 2013/2014 season. It is instructive to note that Barcelona had given up on the title, but a run of results saw them creep right back into the race.
It did not seem like a tall order for the Catalans, as they were playing at home, backed by 90,000 supporters. They had to win though, while Atletico just needed to avoid defeat.
Alexis Sanchez controlled a Lionel Messi chest-pass deftly and unleashed a shot of glorious precision past Thibaut Courtois into the top corner. It seemed the script was playing out well, until Diego Godin’s powerful header levelled the scores.
Full time: 1-1. Diego Simeone’s men snatched the title, right under their hosts’ noses. It must have been a terrible sight, for all the Barca fans that were prepped up to jubilate.
This season, Messi and co have a great opportunity to wrestle the title back. The Argentine has been in inspired form lately. Against City at the Camp Nou, Messi played as if he was having a kick about in his garden. Feints, flicks, nutmegs, the works. At a point, he reduced the contest to walking pace. Even when he hasn’t stepped up, Suarez and Neymar have delivered.
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