Barcelona News: El Classico

This weekend was the annual Barcelona vs. Real Madrid football game and boy was it a huge game. The historic game occurred with Barcelona placed in second, only 3 points behind Real Madrid and the La Liga title is almost at stake. A win for Barcelona and they tie with Real Madrid at 75 points on the season but will take the top spot due to goal differential. With Real Madrid hosting the match, Barcelona was not favored to win. The game was exciting to say the least.

The first half was marked by Real Madrid domination; they had the majority of ball control as well as more shots on goal; 2 by Ronaldo which were saved by Ter Stegen. Real Madrid finally put the ball in the net at the foot of Casemiro in the 28th minute but Lionel Messi answered only 5 minutes later to tie the game in the 33rd minute.

The second half was one of the most exciting 45 minutes of football that I have ever watched, aside from the PSG-Barcelona second leg of the Round of 16 in this year's Champions League. The half was extremely aggressive with both teams receiving a number of bookings after Barcelona's second goal came from Rakatic in the 73rd to take the lead. The most notable booking was Sergio Ramos who performed a heavy slide tackle on Messi and was subsequently sent off, this definitely shifted the  tide of the game. The following minute Carvajal received a yellow and Kovacic received one as well for Real Madrid only 3 minutes later. Barcelona's hopes to sit at the top of the table seemed to be dashed in the 85th minute after a goal by James Rodríguez. The game was extended for an extra 2 minutes given by the referee and it was in the final 92nd minute that Barcelona charged down the field and found Messi who scored his 500th goal of his career to win the game.

Messi then took his jersey off and waved it in front of the Real Madrid supporters to show them who the king of football is; he subsequently received a yellow for excessive celebration but Barcelona still walked away with a well deserved win.