It was a classic tale of two halves as Barcelona rode a dominant final 45 minutes to a convincing 3-0 victory over Real Madrid on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid was the aggressor from the outset, putting pressure on Barcelona after the opening whistle and keeping the Catalans on the back foot for the first half hour of the match. The hosts couldn't capitalize, however, and it came back to burn them in the second half when a renewed Barca struck three times.
Lionel Messi was the catalyst, as he was involved in all three goals and silenced the home crowd to lead Barca to another La Liga victory.
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3 - Barcelona have won three consecutive La Liga away games versus Real Madrid for the first time in their history. Triumph. pic.twitter.com/lTXNRhRtM7
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 23, 2017
Sporting News provided live updates of the match:
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: Score, result, highlights
FINAL SCORE: Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona
Second half
90+3' Aleix Vidal scores! Messi works his magic down the left before he sends it to a streaking Vidal at the top of the box. The ball squirts through before crossing the line. Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona
GOOOOOOOAL!!!!
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 23, 2017
Vidal turns in @FCBarcelona's third after @TeamMessi mesmerizes with "more twists and turns than a cheap garden hose" #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/ilMA7GU5u1
90'+1 Messi finds Andre Gomes on the left, but his first-time effort is well over the bar.
88' Busquets yellow card.
87' Messi gets a shot, but Navas is equal to the task. There may be another goal in this as Madrid has opened things up, leaving space for Barca to counter.
85' Madrid pushing forward. Is it too late?
84' Barcelona brings in Andre Gomes. Paulinho makes way.
82' Marcelo yellow card. The Madrid man protests a non-penalty call a little too vigourously.
81' Barcelona corner leads to nothing after a good Ramos chance. The visitors are clearly in clock-killing mode now.
79' Bale with another chance, but ter Stegen parries it. Marcelo tries to pounce on the rebound but he can't get there before the goalkeeper.
78' Bale nearly scores on a point-blank chance, but ter Stegen gets low quickly to stop what should have been a goal for the Welshman!
. @lm19official weaves through the Barca back line and finds @GarethBale11 in the six-yard box, but @mterstegen1 likes his sheets clean. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/1DoSTrmrZ4
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 23, 2017
77' Barca makes its first change, with Iniesta exiting for Semedo.
74' Another Clasico, another record for Messi.
Another accolade for the living legend.
— DAZN_CA (@DAZN_CA) December 23, 2017
Leo Messi is the first man to reach the quarter-century goal mark in #ElClasico history. pic.twitter.com/NMz7xEiTN9
72' Double change for Madrid as Zidane tries to salvage this game. Bale replaces Kovacic and Asensio comes in for Casemiro.
68' It's been all Barcelona in this half. What a difference from the opening 45 minutes.
Whatever was said at halftime in the #Barcelona dressing room... it worked.
— Rudi Schuller (@RudiSchuller) December 23, 2017
64' Messi scores! The Barca star slots it in to double the lead. Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona
The onslaught continues.
— DAZN_CA (@DAZN_CA) December 23, 2017
Carvajal is shown a straight red for a hand ball in the area, and you're not going to stop #Messi from here...
His 15th goal in 17 LaLiga matches may have Barcelona home and cold in #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/vciYzYQuQo
63' Penalty! Carvajal handles the ball inside the box after Barcelona worked their way in with Messi and Suarez combining. The Madrid man is sent off as he stopped a surefire goal, and Barcelona has the one-man advantage for the remainder of the game.
🛑 @DaniCarvajal92 gets his marching orders after confusing himself for @NavasKeylor . @FCBarcelona are awarded a PK. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/vb6zFuASyG
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 23, 2017
62' Paulinho gets a shot off from 25 yards but it's easily caught by Navas.
59' Ramos yellow card. The Madrid defender gets an arm in Suarez's face and is cautioned for his effort.
54' Suarez scores! The Barca forward makes up for his poor effort with an easy finish, as Barcelona completes a classic attack that saw three players move the ball with just three touches before it's in the back of the net. Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
THERE IT IS!
— DAZN_CA (@DAZN_CA) December 23, 2017
Ivan Rakitić streaks up the middle, and it all ends with Luis Suárez slotting it home. 1-0 Barca! #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/jgG0tSwDaA
53' Suarez has a shot saved by Navas! Messi hit's the speed burst down the left side before squaring a pass to the Uruguayan in front. Suarez should've done better, as his effort is weak and right at the Madrid keeper.
51' It's a real midfield battle now with neither side able to leave the middle third of the field.
47' Ronaldo cuts in from the left and hits a low, right-footed effort that deflects wide.
46' And we're back!
Halftime
Possession evened out toward the end of the first half, with Real Madrid now holding a 52-48 advantage after having the lion's share of the ball in the opening half hour. Madrid enjoyed more of the chances, too, but couldn't convert.
The teams each had two shots on target (as Madrid either missed the net or missed the ball on a handful of opportunities), but ter Stegen and Navas have stood tall when called upon.
Benzema had the chance of the half, heading a brilliant Marcelo cross off the post.
Karim Benzema was THIS CLOSE to opening the scoring in #ElClasico .
— DAZN_CA (@DAZN_CA) December 23, 2017
You're now free to exhale, #Barca fans. We're scoreless at the half in Madrid. pic.twitter.com/NnZ9ArF7cH
First half
45+1' Messi fouled 35 yards from goal. He steps up to the free kick, but his effort hits the top of the wall. That's the last action of the half.
42' Benzema off the post! The Frenchman nods it past ter Stegen but it kisses the outside of the woodwork.
Karim Benzema was THIS CLOSE to opening the scoring in #ElClasico .
— DAZN_CA (@DAZN_CA) December 23, 2017
You're now free to exhale, #Barca fans. We're scoreless at the half in Madrid. pic.twitter.com/NnZ9ArF7cH
41' Madrid camps out in Barca's penalty area, and several half-chances go begging until the ball pops out to Modric at the top of the box. The midfielder hits a long-range effort, but it's well wide.
39' Paulinho denied by Navas again! The Costa Rican goalkeeper has to react quickly to stop the low effort.
38' Madrid enjoys a 54-46 possession advantage so far, but Barcelona has grown into the game after weathering the early storm.
34' Ronaldo charges in down the right and whips in a cross, but the Barcelona defence intervenes before the ball reaches its target. It should be a corner, but the referee oddly awards a goal kick.
Wonderful run by @Cristiano , but Marc-André ter Stegen is equal to the task and deflects his drive wide. #ElClasico is a half-hour old and starting to heat up! 🔥 ⚽️
— DAZN_CA (@DAZN_CA) December 23, 2017
30' Messi delivers a wonderful through ball and Paulinho gets his foot on it, but it's saved by Navas! That was Barca's first shot on target.
🧤 @NavasKeylor ensures @FCBarcelona 's first effort on goal does nothing to move the scoreboard. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/1DazD2PwlW
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 23, 2017
26' Madrid with a corner now. The ball is swung in, but a foul is committed by the attacking side.
23' Barcelona earns a corner. Messi takes, but it's cleared away. The second phase leads to nothing as Madrid stands tall in their own goalmouth.
20' Barcelona trying some things offensively, but Madrid is steadfast defensively thus far.
17' Yellow Card to Vermaelen . Busquets gives the ball away to Modric, and the Barca defender is forced to foul to stop a good chance.
13' Barcelona remains on the back foot. You have to wonder if it's just a matter of time for Madrid.
10' Ronaldo is wide open near the penalty spot, and he whiffs! The superstar completely mistimes his one-time left-footed effort and swings at air.
. @Cristiano looking anxious to add to his four LaLiga goals early on in #ElClasico , with a goal disallowed by an offside before fanning on a prime opportunity in the penalty area!
— DAZN_CA (@DAZN_CA) December 23, 2017
Swing and a miss!
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 23, 2017
A rare @Cristiano mistake lets @FCBarcelona off the hook. Still scoreless at the Bernabeu. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/nWAoRIAhs9
8' Suarez gets called for offside when attacking down the left side. He's off by a hair, but the Barca striker does not agree with the call and lets the ref know about it.
5' Madrid is up for this game! Barcelona has been on the back foot in the early going.
2' Madrid earns a corner. Ronaldo SCORES.... but it's called back for offside. What a start that would've been.
. @Cristiano gets the Bernabeu faithful out of their seats, but the linesman's flag cuts short the celebrations. #ElClasico pic.twitter.com/leRW4gLb23
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 23, 2017
Pre-game
While we're all waiting, have a gander at this fun little video that designates El Clasico stars as Christmas characters. Lionel Messi as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Why not?!
If that's not enough to whet your appetite, have a look at the links below. We've got every angle of El Clasico covered.
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